HK powers the nation's equestrian development

A team of seasoned Hong Kong veterinary surgeons was standing by at the Shenzhen Guangming International Equestrian Center — the hosting venue of the 15th National Games' equestrian competitions — when riders and horses from across the nation were vying for glory from Nov 10 to 19.

The surgeons, who were based at an on-site equine hospital — the first in the event's history — were dispatched from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Apart from providing standard clinical care, the full-fledged hospital also enabled them to perform surgery, with a fully equipped operating theater and a blood testing laboratory.

As the only sporting event to involve animals at the nation's top level games, the establishment of such a hospital marks a living embodiment of Hong Kong's contribution to the National Games and its equestrian development.

The hospital was a joint effort between the HKJC and the games' organizing committee.

The club provided guidance on its design, lending professional equipment free of cost, while also working with the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong authorities to facilitate the procurement and import of veterinary drugs and equipment.

Home to a world-class horse racing operator, the city has accumulated much experiences and expertise in equestrian development.

Apart from providing the vets and support, the club sent a team of experts from Hong Kong to help ensure the smooth operation of the racecourse for this year's games, co-hosted by Hong Kong and its neighbors Guangdong and Macao.

Ronald Chan Ngok-pang, head of the club's mainland affairs, said the cross-jurisdictional endeavor posed unique operational challenges.

At the Greater Bay Area Conference, a high-profile gathering co-hosted by China Daily in October, Chan said that these challenges prompted the club and other stakeholders to develop more cross-border innovations.

These hurdles could come in different forms. For Hong Kong vets to work on the mainland would need innovative tryouts. An ad hoc mechanism was therefore introduced to allow veterinarians to work and prescribe at the equestrian center, with special approval granted for exporting medications from Hong Kong.

Vet service was just one of the ways the club backed the games. As it marked Hong Kong's debut in co-hosting the event, the club, which is deeply rooted in the city, demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility.

It backed the games with over HK$500 million in funding and had its largest-ever squad of 11 horse-and-rider pairs competing across all categories. Moreover, leveraging its expertise in equestrian sports and extensive experience in organizing competitions, the club offered comprehensive support encompassing horse welfare, venue design, anti-doping protocols, stable management, event services, and more.

Long-term contributions

Long before the recent games, the club had been a significant contributor to the nation's equestrian sector with pioneering initiatives.

For the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, the club allocated HK$1.2 billion to venue construction and oversaw the process, while providing round-the-clock veterinary services. At the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, it donated 30 million yuan and provided technical support, particularly in transport logistics and veterinary services. Such support, at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, became more comprehensive, adding biosecurity, stable management, farriery services, venue operations, and international stakeholder engagement.

Notably, for the Guangzhou Asian Games, the club helped establish the mainland's first internationally recognized equine disease-free zone. This zone spanned from Hong Kong to Guangzhou's Conghua area — the Asian Games' equestrian venue designed and built by the club. The venue was later transformed into the Conghua Racecourse with the club's support and has since been operating as its training center.

Beyond event support, the club keeps expanding its footprint on the mainland. The club recently announced that it had acquired land for an equine transfer center, which will streamline horse importation into the mainland and potentially help foster China's horse breeding industry.

Racing into the future

Also at the GBA Conference, Chan announced a significant update: the Conghua Racecourse will host its inaugural regular race meeting starting from 2026, marking the commencement of world-class racing on the mainland.

The specific date was later confirmed by the club as Oct 31. The club said the timing will allow it to align its planning with China's new five-year national equine industry plan, which is expected to be released in March 2026.

This milestone, Chan said, will further elevate GBA as "a hub of world-class sporting events" and bolster the region's sports entertainment and tourism portfolio.

To further contribute to national equestrian development, Chan believes that international resources and networks, apart from professional expertise, are also Hong Kong and the club's unique strengths, noting that "the best international experts in our field are all willing to come work for the club".

"Marrying Hong Kong's international connectivity with the mainland's resources and experience, we are going to open doors to boundless opportunities," Chan said.

amberwu@chinadailyhk.com