The world will descend on Wuhan as the central Chinese city hosts the nation’s highest profile horse racing event in 2015.
The CECF Wuhan, to be held on Saturday 19th September 2015, will draw key opinion leaders, business icons, artists and celebrities from across China as well as an elite international audience from across the globe.
The showpiece CECF Wuhan is an extension of the successful China Equine Cultural Festival (CECF) brand that began in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia in 2013 (the ‘epicentre of Asian horse culture’) before continuing on through the Yangtze Delta region centres of shanghai, Zhejiang and Kunshan (‘the engine room of China’) in 2014 before making its international debut in Singapore in February of this year.
A plethora of partners and sponsors throw their considerable weight behind the 2015 CECF Wuhan once again. Longines, the premier support of world thoroughbred racing, will again partner the China Horse Club as will international auction houses Inglis, Arqana, Goffs and New Zealand Bloodstock as well as the industry leader Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. Additional partners and sponsors include Chinese fashion house Dan, The China Daily, Daluma, Prestige, PIN Prestige, Coolmore, Newgate Farm, WinStar Farm, Gold Berry, Fields and Select, Sunny Farm, TEF, Oceans, The Alpina, The Chase, Majestic magazine, Robb Report, Wuhan Business School, Shangri La Hotel Wuhan and more.
Mr Louis Romanet, President of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, the body that oversees world racing, sent a message of support on the eve of the 2015 CECF Wuhan:
“The growth of Chinese involvement in thoroughbred racing is very real and very important. Much of this growth begins at the grassroots level with events such as the 2015 CECF Wuhan where people are introduced to the sport for the very first time,” said Mr Romanet.
“I am very much looking forward to returning to China once again for the 2015 CECF Wuhan to see how thoroughbred racing has grown in the last 12 months and how the international industry can play a role in encouraging China’s continued growth.”
In three short years the CECF has confirmed its status as a launching pad to announce future star owners, jockeys and racehorses, propelling Chinese from a grassroots introduction in the ‘Sport of Kings’ to having a presence on an international stage. In 2015 the theme of the CECF Wuhan will harness the inspirational actions of Chinese both domestically and internationally to chase their personal dreams and as aspire to greater things with a theme of ‘China Dream. Racing To The World’.
“At the China Horse Club we are inspired by the actions of those all around us. We are inspired not only by the efforts of Qin Yong in riding to two gold medals at the Minority Games for Hubei, but by the team behind him that created an opportunity he could deliver upon,” said Mr Teo Ah Khing, Founder and Chairman of the China Horse Club.
“We are inspired by the reaction of the Hubei Government, the Wuhan Business School and the people of Hubei.“We are inspired by the support of partners and sponsors who share a belief in the CECF and in helping build a vision that allows the Chinese not only to be inspired but to act on inspiration.
“We are inspired by our members who in the last week have created history by becoming the first owners to ever secure Horse of the Year in both of the Australian states of NSW and Victoria.
“In 2015 the theme of the CECF Wuhan is ‘China Dream. Racing to the World’. It is more than a catch cry, it is a call to action.”
The CECF Wuhan is an RMB 10 million production and will include a feature race day organised by the Wuhan Equestrian Association and organised in collaboration with the Wuhan Jockey Club. This race meeting has also secured the support of the Chinese Equestrian Association and will be held under the supervision of Hubei Equestrian Association.
Following the CECF Wuhan Race Day will be the CECF Wuhan Gala Event, a spectacle of cultural performances at the famous Wuhan Qintai Theatre.
The 2015 CECF Wuhan will also be a celebration for Hubei’s success at the recent 10th Chinese Traditional Games of Ethnic Minority. The Province won two gold medals, the first in its history, when dominating the speed racing discipline. Star jockey Qin Yong and gold medal winning thoroughbreds Endzone and North Dakota are all set to take their place at the CECF Wuhan and are expected to be among crowd favourites in a day of celebrations and fanfare. Previous CECF events have hosted celebrities, representatives of royal families, business magnates, knights of the realm and international thoroughbred racing superstars Wuhan in 2015 is anticipated to set a new standard of excellence again.
