Meydan extends racing vision, inks China deal

Meydan officials have announced that a strategic partnership has been reached with the city of Chengdu and its Wenjiang district for the hosting of a race meeting to be held in the Chinese city later this year.

Located in the southwestern area of China, Chengdu has a successful recent history in staging equine sports. In 2010, Chengdu was the site of the Jimma Equestrian Sports and Culture Festival and served as the host of the China Equestrian Festival in both 2011 and 2012.

The Meydan racing programme to be held in Wenjiang — which is located in the western area of Chengdu – is tentatively scheduled for the month of October 2013, with an undetermined number of races to be offered.

The programme will be an international day of racing featuring horses and horsemen that frequent the Meydan racing season.

Meydan Group chairman Saeed H Al Tayer said: “This is an exciting development that will further define the future of racing in China.

“It highlights the spirit of international cooperation that exists between Dubai, the UAE and China.

“We will continue to develop our strategy in China and hope that this initial step will nurture the growth and development of this sport in China and the UAE.

“Information relating to quarantine, prize money, race conditions and other race specifics will be issued at a later date.

“As we are on the threshold of the 18^th running of the Dubai World Cup, a world-famous contest that grew out of the vision and passion for racing that exists in this country, we are pleased to make this significant international announcement.

“It is this passion for racing and major events that we wish to share with our counterparts in China as well as the wider racing world.”