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Horse racing back on Wuhan courses
(Xinhua/Asianewsphoto)
Updated: 2008-12-01 10:43

Horse racing back on Wuhan courses
 Horses gallop toward the finish line at the China Speed Horse Race Open in Wuhan November 29, 2008. Horse racing is back on the Chinese mainland after almost 60 years. [Asianewsphoto]
 

Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei, used to be the country's horse racing center in the early 1900s. But racing was banned in the country after the foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Horse racing reappeared in the early 1990s, but not as gambling, after national races were organized and jockey clubs set up.

"This is China's first experiment with commercial horse racing," Wang Shenshun, deputy head of Wuhan sports administration, said. "First time organizers will offer prizes for every race, and individuals or groups can buy horses and share the prizes." Betting rates, however, have not been fixed.

Zhu Ping, who teaches in the Wuhan University of Technology, won 12 yuan from the scratch-off tickets.