REGIONAL> Highlights
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]

"It's not important for me to earn money (this way) ... The event is important because it boosts the interest of spectators and encourages public participation," Zhu said. The country's largest jumbotron, 480 sq m, was set up at the racecourse on Nov 15 so that spectators could also follow the races on a giant screen.

Wuhan started studying the possibility of resuming horse race in 2005, and in January the central government approved that betting could be introduced in regular races on a trial basis.

Qin Zunwen, of the Hubei provincial academy of social sciences, said the horse racing industry could create 3 million jobs once a nationwide betting network was in place. The annual lottery sales could reach a whopping 100 billion yuan ($14.65 billion) and yield 40 billion yuan in tax revenue.

"A legal channel to bet on horse racing could eliminate illegal online gambling (from the country)," Qin said, and help curb underground and overseas gambling. Revenue collected from bets would be paid to winners and spent on public welfare projects and the racing industry.

Wang said: "The test run was a preparation for an official event If approved, horse racing can be upgraded to regular events once or twice a week."