(photo by CHIA)

       Ladies and gentlemen, Good morning.

I am JIA Youling, president of China Horse Industry Association. It is my honour to represent China to attend Asian Racing Federation Conference.

First of all, please allow me to introduce myself.

In 1947, I was born in Hebei Province, China.

In 1967, I came to the pasturing area in Xilin Gol Grassland, Inner Mongolia as a veterinary as well as an epidemic prevention coordinator, whose main responsibility was to prevent & control diseases, make clinical diagnosis and treatment and artificially inseminate horses, cows and sheep which were bred in a nomadic fashion.

From 1966 to 1977, I was hired as the deputy director general of Bureau of Animal Husbandry of the pasturing area’s Banner government.

In 1979, I worked for Ministry of Agriculture of China, engaged in the management of grassland, herding and veterinary, etc. I also once served as the director general of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of Ministry of Agriculture, Chief Economist of Ministry of Agriculture and China's Chief Veterinary Officer.

     From 2008 onwards, I was hired as a guest lecturer by Lanzhou University and Qingdao Agricultural University and as the dean, professor and doctoral supervisor of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University.

Between 2009 and 2014, I served as the president of Chinese Veterinary Medical Association.

From 2014 till now, I am the president of China Horse Industry Association.

In addition, I was the editor-in-chief of China’s Meadow Resources, Handbook of International Veterinary Affairs and An Outline of Animal Welfare and other monographs.

Let us first watch a video—《Horseracing in China Moving on the Right Track》

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The Development of CHIA (timeline)

(photo by CHIA)

           1    in 1976, the Conference of Horse Breeding Experience in China’s Major Breeding Area and Compiling was held. This is also the earliest activity of CHIA though no official organisation was founded then.

           2    in 1982, the Inaugural Meeting of National Horse Breeding Committee was held.

           3    in 1994, China Stud Book Committee of CHIA was founded.

           4    in October 2002, approved by State Council and based on National Horse Breeding Committee and China Stud Book Committee, China Horse Industry Association was founded.

The Administrative Structure of CHIA and the introduction of its business

CHIA is a national, industrial and non-profit organization founded, voluntarily, by entities and individuals which are in horse industry, love horse culture and engage in horse-related activities.

In 2015, CHIA was awarded National Advanced Social Organisation by Ministry of Civil Affairs and it is the only horse-related organisation in the first batch to receive this award.

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The Horse Culture in China

Chinese President XI Jinping's remarks on 2014 International Akhal-Teke Horse Association Special Conference

(photo by CHIA)

Horse plays an important part in traditional Chinese culture, and horse culture in China has a long story to tell. At present we need exactly the power, spirit and stamina of this noble animal for construction, development and innovation in all areas. To me horse is not only a symbol of perseverance and persistence, but also a symbol of unfailing courage and endurance. This year's animal figure for the Chinese New Year is horse, and China is now galloping forward with faster pace in order to realize the nation's dream of great rejuvenation.

President XI Jinping attaches great importance to the development of horse culture and emphasizes on the importance of China's horse culture.

 

Dragon-Horse Carrying the Pattern and its relation with CHIA's logo

Legend has it that 6000 to 7000 years ago, Dragon-Horse carried the pattern from Yellow River and Fuxi started Chinese culture. Therefore Dragon-Horse Carrying the Pattern became “Source of River Pattern” and Fuxi was credited as Chinese “Ancestor of Humans” and “Ancestor of Civilization”.

The idea of CHIA's logo came from “China's First Dragon” from Red Mountain Culture and took from the meaning of “the vigour of a dragon or horse”. For Chinese, horses have features of dragons and horses can become dragons and vice versa.

The inside of the logo is added with China's Great Wall, which signifies unity, fortitude and strength. A circle symbolizes perfection and the opening beneath the horse's head means openness and vastness.

It can be said that China horse culture and Chinese culture came into being at the same time.

Buddhism as a Culture Link between China and India

From Han Dynasty, China has a peaceful and friendly relation with India. It was through horses, the great ambassador, that the mystic Buddhism was passed to China. From this point of view, we can conclude whether in horse culture or horse industry, China and India have a long and strong friendship from ancient times to the present.

According to records, in AD 67, two Indian eminent monks were invited to travel with Han delegates to bring Buddhism scriptures and sculptures to Luoyang, capital of Han. They used white horses. Emperor Ming of Han was very delighted seeing the scriptures and sculptures and treated the two monks with utmost respect.In AD 68, Emperor Ming ordered to build a temple in Luoyang. In order to commemorate white horse carrying scriptures, the temple was named as White Horse Temple.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi being handed over the Bodhi Tree sapling at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda at Shanxi Province in Xi’an, China. The Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping is also present to witness the handing over. (Image date: May 14, 2015).

The Earliest Record of Horseracing in China—Tianji's Horseracing Story

On December 21, 2015, the Evolution of China Horse Industry Management & Horseracing Origin Seminar was held in Beijing. On January 2, 2016, Searching For Horseracing Origins was started.

According to Shi Ji (Historical Records), around BC 356 or 355, under the rule of King Wei of Qi Dynasty, Tianji used the strategy of “inferior horse against superior horse, superior horse against medium horse, medium horse against inferior horse” to race. Tianji won 2 of 3 races and therefore was hired by King Wei of Qi and later became a prominent strategist.

And the Racecourse of Tianji's Horseracing Story

Horse Evaluation in Ancient China—Bo Le Physiognomizing Horses

 SUN Yang, who lived in the Spring and Autumn Period, was adept at Physiognomizing horses. He could pick a fine horse from the crowd and people called him “Bo Le”. During the rise of Qin State, SUN Yang made great contributions and was given the title “General Bo Le” by King Mu of Qin. Later on Bo Le dedicated his life to writing China's and the world's first horse-judging book—Bo Le's Way of Judging Horses.

Horse stepping on flying swallow is a bronze ware of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the horse is 34.5CM tall, 45CM long and 13CM wide. Horse stepping on flying swallow was unearthed in 1969 in WuWei, Gansu Province from a general’s tomb who’s last name is Zhang, and the horse is now collecting  in Gansu Museum. The horse is running ahead with its three hooves rising high into the air, and the other hoof is stepping on a swallow. This bronze ware expresses the majestic appearance of a horse which is running fast and swing through the air. Horse stepping on flying swallow is a rare treasure of ancient art of sculpture, it combined the artists’ highly intelligence, rich imagination, romantic spirit and extraordinary skill of Han Dynasty.

Polo in China

There are three theories about the origins of Polo: Persia, Tibet (China) and Yellow River basin (China). China has two areas.

In 1971, a Polo-playing painting was unearthed from the grave of LI Xian, a crown prince of Tang Dynasty. The painting was so vast and described Polo-playing’s magnificence and thus was deemed as National Treasure.

Polo-playing began in early period of Tang Dynasty and with the Emperor’s encouragement, Polo became popular very quickly.

With the increasing popularity of Polo, the construction of racecourses was getting more attention. According to History as A Mirror, in later period of Tang Dynasty, there were Light Racecourse and Grassland Racecourse.

 

Gift Horses to President XI Jinping from State Leaders

1.     2014 The President of People’s Republic of Turkmenistan presented an Akhal-Téke horse to Chinese President XI Jinping.  

2.     2014 The President of People’s Republic of Mongolia presented two Mongolian Horses to Chinese President XI Jinping.   

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Horseracing in China

(photo by CHIA)

 

Review of the History of Horseracing in China

Over the past 30 years, horse betting had two pilot projects. However, regretfully, none of them last.

In early 1990s, Guangzhou Jockey Club and Shenzhen Jockey Club were founded and Beijing Xiangcun Racecourse was opened. Among them, horseracing in Guangzhou was the biggest. On January 28, 1993, Guangzhou Racecourse had its first raceday. In 1994, 103 betting shops were built and during its prime time, the betting pool for each race was over 10 million RMB. During these seven years, 757 races were run. On December 14, 1999, it came to an end.

In April, 2001, Beijing Tongshun Racecourse was registered at Industrial and Commercial Bureau of Tongzhou District, Beijing and was verified by Sports Bureau of Beijing. In August, 2001, Beijing Tongshun Racecourse was opened. The total area of the racecourse amounted to 160 hectare with three racetracks: one 2280-metre turf track, one 2005-metre turf track and one 1850-metre sand track. Over 2000 thoroughbreds were bred here and 300 of them could race and 400-odd thoroughbreds were horses-in-training. In October, 2005, it was stopped.

People in horse industry agree that in the future, horseracing betting will definitely be opened in China. It is only a matter of time.

Today's Horse Industry in China   

According to the data of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN and China Animal Husbandry Yearbook, there are 6.043 million horses (in 2014), around 800 equestrian clubs and horse farms, 30 of which are racecourses. Over 2000 horses are imported every year.

The status quo of horse breeds in China:

1.     Local breed (5 horse systems, around 30 breeds)  

Mongolian Horses system, Hequ Horse system, Kazakh Horse system, Kurama system, Southwestern Horse system

2.     New breeds (13)

Sanhe Horse, Jinzhou Horse, Tieling Draught Horse, Jilin Horse, Guanzhong Horse, Bohai Horse, Shandan Horse, Yiwu Horse, Xilingol Horse, Khorchin Horse, Zhangbei Horse, Xinlijiang Horse, Ili Horse

3.     Imported breed (30-odd)

More than 30 breeds were imported from around 20 countries. The breeds which have a large number of horses in China include thoroughbred, Akhal-Teke Horse, Arabian Horse, European Warmblood Horse, Shetland Pony and American Quarter Horse, etc.

Equus ferus Przewalskii

The number of imported horse（2008-2015）the data from AQSIQ

The Horseracing In China

Nation ➠ Permission

Government ➠ Support

People ➠ Passion

The two racecourses in China

（1）China Xiyu Racecourse (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)

（2）Yijinhuoluo Racecourse (Inner Mongolia)

Prerequisites of Horseracing in China in 2015

Each year, there are a large number of big and small races in mainland China but not many of them can be credited as “qualified”.

To be listed into CHIA's races, it is IMPERATIVE that the following rules are obeyed:

1.     All racehorses are registered;

2.     All racehorses must be immunized;

3.     Sampling Inspection of prohibited substances will be carried out in each race.

A Brief Summary of Horseracing in China in 2015

There were 6 race days and 55 races in 2015, including 13 thoroughbred flat races and 42 local-breed races. The Total Prize Fund is 3.215 million RMB and that of thoroughbred races is 2.05 million RMB, and local-breed races 1.165 million RMB. There were 121 starts for thoroughbreds and 300 for local-breed horses.

Strategic Cooperation

2015 Signed the Memorandum of Agreement with Hong Kong Jockey Club

Strategic Cooperation (cont)

2014 Signed the Framework Agreement with the People’s Republic of Turkmenistan

The Plan for 2016

Conclusion

The Horseracing and Horse Culture of China Play an Important Role in the World.

A．China Horse Culture is an important part of World Horse Culture;

B．The healthy and sustainable development of horses in the world cannot be separated from China and the development of China horse industry will become a new commanding height of the development of world horse industry.

C．China has the capacity to continue to bring surprises to world horse industry and it is worth the wait for its horse world family.

D．CHIA is endeavouring to become a member of Asian Racing Federation.

F．The development of China horse industry is not possible without your help and support. In horseracing, we are, at the same time, both young and old.

The Hope of CHIA

CHIA hopes that through its effort and the guidance and help of other countries and regions, Asian Racing Federation will give CHIA an opportunity to host the ARC.

The Horse Industry of China

 (photo by CHIA)