Youyu's racing industry gallops ahead

As the starting gate swung open, the sandy track of Yulong international racecourse in Youyu county, Shuozhou city, Shanxi province, came alive with the thunder of hooves.

Nine domestic racehorses surged forward, with jockeys vying for the lead. Among them, 35-year-old Li Rongchang from Guangdong province, with his sun-weathered skin, stood out. His steady performance amid fierce competition earned him the top position.

The 2026 Yulong International Horse Racing Open Tournament kicked off in May and will conclude in September, featuring 19 race days and 117 events. This series of races brought a cultural and tourism boom to Youyu, highlighting the county's unique equine industry.

Li, who has competed at major racecourses across China, first came to Youyu in 2014. The well-equipped tracks and organized event systems left a lasting impression on him. Since then, he has been a regular at the racecourse, dedicating 12 years to the sport.

For Li, Youyu is the ideal place for horse racing and training. Its cool climate and high-quality grasslands are a stark contrast to the hot and humid conditions of South China, providing a stable environment for horses to maintain peak performance and endure rigorous training.

Another jockey, Huang Shihao, who joined the Youyu races in 2024 after years of experience in Macao, shared insights into the challenges of the profession. With over 30 years in the industry, Huang noted that the public tends to underestimate the demands placed on jockeys.

"Horse racing requires maintaining high physical fitness and involves significant risks. Mastering each horse and maximizing its potential is no easy feat," he said.

Situated at the junction of Shanxi and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Youyu blends agricultural and grassland cultures. Its location along the global golden horse breeding belt at 40 degrees north latitude makes it a natural haven for horse breeding and development, laying a solid foundation for the equine industry.

Since 2008, Youyu has moved away from traditional, informal horse rearing to establish a modern, systematic equine industry. By 2017, the Yulong international regular horse racing events had taken root, driving a comprehensive upgrade of the local horse industry.

Over more than a decade, Youyu has developed a complete horse industry chain encompassing breeding, training, event management, talent cultivation, horse trading, and cultural research.

Yao Shan, general manager of Shanxi Yulong Horse Industry Development Co, said the 2026 season's total prize money is about 60 million yuan ($8.89 million).

The events have adhered to international standards, maintaining fairness and integrity. The races attract horse owners from over 20 provincial-level regions in China and several international participants.

"During the summer events, the racecourse houses nearly 1,000 horses, with about 100 foals bred annually. The industry's growth is steady," Yao said.

In May, retired Irish horse trainer Tom Taaffe, renowned as both a jockey and a trainer, praised the season's events during a local media interview. "This is my fourth visit to Yulong racecourse. It's an honor to be invited to this event, and this year, the audience is larger, and the atmosphere is better than ever," he said. Taaffe hopes for more collaborative opportunities with the local industry, drawing greater attention to China's horse racing sector.

Feng Changhui, a horse owner from Hebei province, entered the thoroughbred field at the nascent stage of China's horse racing industry. Leveraging her language skills, she connects with Australian equine resources, fostering Sino-Australian industry exchanges.

She said Youyu's mature event system creates a complete industry loop, allowing horses to increase their value through competition, breeding, and trading.

Feng highlighted the rapid evolution of China's horse racing industry — from a lack of regular events to a comprehensive industry framework, and from a strong reliance on imported horses to the emergence of locally bred champions.

In 2018, Taiyuan University of Technology in Shanxi and Shanxi Yulong Horse Industry Development Co jointly established the Yulong International Horse Racing Academy, aligning education with industry needs to train jockeys, trainers, and event managers.

Yang Wenkai, a 22-year-old student from Taiyuan University of Technology, is currently interning at the racecourse.

Despite initial family opposition to his chosen career path due to the niche nature of the field, his systematic academic learning and practical experience have solidified his choice. He plans to pursue further studies and immerse himself in the horse industry.

During the racing season, tourists from around the world flock to the area to spectate.

"Watch horse races, tour the Great Wall, and learn the spirit of Youyu" has become a popular cultural and tourism route, significantly boosting local accommodation occupancy and sales of specialty agricultural products.

Statistics show that the horse racing industry attracts nearly 300,000 visitors annually to the area, creating over 1,000 indirect jobs and generating about 400 million yuan in related consumer revenue.

Mei Lihong, a member of the Youyu county Party committee, said that Youyu will continue to enhance its horse racing brand, increasing its professional and international levels to expand its influence.

By leveraging horse racing as a signature brand, they aim to empower the cultural tourism, wellness, and leisure industries, contributing to the county's high-quality development.

Jing Ziyan contributed to this story.