On July 22nd, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) and the Sports Bureau of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region signed a memorandum of cooperation in Urumqi, marking the start of a long-term collaboration to modernize and internationalize Xinjiang's horse industry. This milestone reflects HKJC's ongoing support for the development of China's horse industry and aligns with the national rural revitalization strategy.
In late July, HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and his delegation visited Xinjiang, where they were received by the chairman of the regional government. The two sides held in-depth discussions on developing the local horse industry. Home to the largest horse population in China and the origin of the Yili horse breed, Xinjiang is committed to integrating horse breeding and rearing with horse cultural tourism.
According to the memorandum, the cooperation will include: supporting regular Yili horse races in Xinjiang; introducing international competition systems and technical standards to create high-caliber branded events; helping raise the Yili horse's health benchmarks to meet international biosafety standards to pave the way for global recognition; cultivating international equine professionals through talent exchanges with Hong Kong; and promoting academic cooperation in veterinary science, training, and related disciplines to boost industry standards.
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges stated that HKJC will leverage the advantages of the "one country, two systems" policy and its own expertise to help bring Chinese horse culture onto the global stage. He believes the Yili horse has the potential to become a worldwide symbol of horse culture in China and emphasized that the Hong Kong Jockey Club Conghua Racecourse will serve as a strategic platform to support the growth of Xinjiang's horse industry.
Last year, HKJC supported 45 Yili horse performance testing events in Xinjiang, significantly boosting the breed's visibility and market value, and contributing to the flourishing of the local equine industry.
7月22日，香港赛马会与新疆维吾尔自治区体育局在乌鲁木齐签署合作备忘录，开启推动新疆马产业现代化和国际化的长期合作，这是香港赛马会支持国家马产业发展的里程碑，也契合国家乡村振兴战略。
香港赛马会行政总裁应家柏等一行于7月下旬访问新疆，受到自治区政府主席接见，双方就新疆马产业发展深入交流。新疆是中国马匹数量最多的地区，是伊犁马发源地，当地致力于推动养马、育马等与马文化旅游融合发展。
根据备忘录，双方合作包括：支持新疆常态化举办伊犁马比赛，引入国际赛事体系和技术标准，打造高规格品牌赛事；协助新疆提升伊犁马健康至国际生物安全标准，助力其走向世界；共同培养国际化马业技术人才，组织骨干赴港交流；加强马兽医、训练等专业发展及学术合作，支持院校相关学科建设，提升行业水平。
应家柏表示，香港赛马会将发挥“一国两制”优势及自身经验，推动中国马文化走向世界，认为伊犁马有望成为中国马文化环球标志，广州从化马场将作为战略平台支持新疆马产业发展。
去年，香港赛马会已支持在新疆举行45场伊犁马性能测试赛，提升了其知名度与市场价值，推动了产业繁荣。
