Breeding & Racing Magazine

China Ends 60-Year Horse Racing Ban

China has lifted a 60-year ban on horse racing “allowing weekly races to be conducted in the central city of Wuhan,” reported abc.net.au. However “gamblers will be disappointed, because no wagering will be permitted”. Communist authorities banned horse racing after taking power in the 1949 revolution “as part of a broad clampdown on anything smacking of luxury & decadence”. Racing in Wuhan (the 1st city to host a commercial race in 2008) “will now take place from late August & be broadcast live; 10-12 horses will be entered in 4-6 races & more than 200 owners have already decided to participate”. The China Daily reported The General Administration Of Sports “has approved the weekly races races”, which will be organised by the Hubei provincial government & run by Hong Kong-based Orient Lucky Horse Industry. Liu Hongqing, spokesperson of Wuhan's Orient Lucky City race course, commented: “People can win small prizes if they correctly guess which horse will win the race, but they can't bet on horses like people do during Hong Kong horse racing.”