Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges yesterday forecast that success at the Hong Kong International Races will become "a key indicator for the breeding industry in China" as the club entered into another highly significant memorandum of understanding on the mainland, this time with the China Horse Industry Association (CHIA).
Two weeks after formally partnering with the arm of central government at the heart of organising horse races in China, the club yesterday announced its partnership with the mainland authority overseeing horse registration, drug testing and the development of veterinary care.
"These are the two key stakeholders in a racing and breeding industry in China - the China Equine Association [CEA], which comes under general sports administration, will develop the sporting side, the actual racing event," Engelbrecht-Bresges explained.
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"The CHIA, under the Ministry Of Agriculture, would develop other aspects, like the studbook, veterinary care and drug testing.
"That is not an exact definition of each, as we can see there may be areas of overlap, but to build an industry requires both roles so we need to develop our strategic partnerships with both the CHIA and CEA."
One crucial CHIA role will be the registration of horses in China, currently haphazard or non-existent, and building on the existing stud book created with the Jockey Club's help 18 years ago.
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"There is not one horse passport in China and a lot of racing and breeding horses which are unregistered. We helped establish the stud book but there has been no incentive for people to register their horses," Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
"One idea that we are thinking about is offering incentives, perhaps prizemoney bonuses for race winners which are correctly registered.
"It is going to take a few years but, in the vastness of China, we must establish the principle that horses arrive in the country and have to be registered. A fundamental for racing and breeding is correct identification and traceability."
Engelbrecht-Bresges said that, although the CHIA is involved with all equine sports, its primary focus is long term development of "speed racing", including a functioning breeding industry.
"A proper breeding industry can emerge in China and it will elevate Hong Kong as it does," he said. "Achieving success here will be a key indicator for any horse going to stud in China, and our international races will add breeding value for stallions and mares there."
