An Education in Action at the CECF

ORDOS, China–It was an education disguised as a day of racing. Sure, yesterday's four-race card at Yiqi Race Course in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, had the look of a fun afternoon at the track. There were some quality horses by fashionable sires–Galileo (Ire) and Montjeu (Ire) among them. There was an international cast of jockeys from the UK, Australia, Russia and elsewhere. And the stands, somewhat surprisingly to many foreign visitors, were bustling. The long, three-tiered grandstand, modern in design, holds about 26,000, and between 15,000 and 20,000 people packed in for a day of racing, and an evening of music and spectacular fireworks.

To be sure, though, yesterday's centerpiece of the two-day China Equine Cultural Festival, hosted by the China Horse Club, was about education. Educating local government officials about the positive impact racing can have. Educating visiting dignitaries, and some more modest visitors (read: the media), about the steps that are being taking to promote racing in China. And educating a would-be local fanbase about a sport that, hopefully, could one day be a significant source of jobs in the region.

“It's a showcase event,” said the China Horse Club's Michael Wallace. “We're streaming the races around the world right now, and it's something that everyone can have a bit of insight into now. Racing in China doesn't seem so far away and remote anymore. Most people in the industry couldn't envisage a grandstand with a crowd like this in Inner Mongolia, China. But it's the real thing.”

The China Horse Club was founded by the billionaire architect-turned-tycoon Teo Ah Khing, who has assembled a stable that's become a rising international powerhouse in recent years. This is the fourth renewal of the CECF, which was created to bring some of the best and most influential minds in racing to China.

The day kicked off at 3 p.m. local time with an opening ceremony that featured traditional musicians and dancing dragons. Next came the card's four races, all contested over Yiqi's deep sand track. In the opener, the 1000-meter Australian Turf Club Cup, the British jockey Daniel Muscutt put the 3-year-old filly Lilly Pins (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in a forward position and booted her home to a clear-cut win.

Up next was the 1000-meter International Breeders' Cup, also for fillies. This time, it was the Australian Michael Cahill who came out on top with the 2-year-old Irdy's Girl (NZ) (Paco Boy {Ire}).

The home team finally registered a win after crowd-favorite Qin Yong won aboard the 6-year-old gelding Sturt (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the 1200-meter CECF Caribbean Cup. Sturt was a $185,328 yearling grad of the New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale 2011. Another popular rider, the young female jockey Zhang Rui Rui, finished third on Illustrate (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

Closing out the card was YITAI Cup going 2000 meters, which was won by the top Russian rider Myrzabek Kappushev, who in addition to winning a majority of the major races in his home country, is also a stakes-winning rider in the U.S. Kappushev's partner was the 6-year-old gelding Hales (Aus) (Haradasun {Aus}), who streaked clear in the stretch to win with ease. Hales was a $35,616 Inglis Premiere Yearling Sale graduate.

Throughout the races, the local crowd was engaged and enthusiastic, despite the obvious caveat that betting isn't allowed, and food and beverage options were few and far between.

“It's all about trying to promote racing in China, and standing here, looking at a massive stand of people, I think we've accomplished that for sure,” continued Wallace. “There's a good atmosphere, and everybody seems to be enjoying themselves. It's something new, and everyone seems captivated. In time, we hope it's something that's here every week, and something the locals can become interested in. Once things progress, there's obviously a supply chain of services that are required, and there are local people here that are going to benefit from that.”

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing's Charles O'Neill was one of several dozen industry leaders on hand, and said ITM's presence was all about supporting those who support you.

“We're here because China Horse Club are major players on the international stage, and they've been very good to Ireland the last three or four years,” he said. “So it's very important that we be here to support them, and to support their endeavors in China.”

O'Neill added that the afternoon surpassed his expectations.

“Coming to the races here, this has really blown me away,” he said. “The crowd is, what, 15,000 or 20,000? The stand is over three-quarters full. It's unbelievable.”

WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden, who has partnered with China Horse Club on several racing and stallion prospects, including the young Grade I winner Daredevil (More Than Ready), echoed those sentiments.

“Teo's a visionary, and we feel like we're a progressive farm that's developed a good synergy with China Horse Club,” said Walden. “We're here to support him, and I'm excited to see all the people here.”