China’s HK$3.7 billion Conghua Racecourse will host its very first exhibition meeting this Saturday, with five races to be staged in partnership with Hong Kong Jockey Club.
The meeting is seen as an opportunity to boost tourism exposure to the Conghua District, located in the north of Guangzhou and known for its natural hot springs.
However, unlike a normal race day, there will be no betting and no live telecast with all races broadcast back to Hong Kong on a 15-minute delay.
HKJC Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has also insisted that any push to allow race betting in China is not something he has considered.
“I want to make this crystal clear – it is not an objective,” he stated at the opening of Conghua Racecourse last August. “It is not what we are aiming for. It is very clear there is no law in China that would permit it.”
Saturday’s event is the first time a meeting, run in collaboration with the Conghua District Government, has been held in mainland China under the jurisdiction of the HKJC.
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