Page 19 - Majestic Vol9

The opportunity presented by Ordos was not lost on
America’s equine business leaders with Keeneland
and WinStar Farm signing Memorandums of
Understanding respectively with the Inner Mongolia
Yitai Desert Star Horse Industries, the organisation
behind the Ordos Breeding Project. Keeneland, an
international leader in both thoroughbred auction/
sales and racing events, and WinStar Farm, an
international leader, in the breeding, racing and
raising of elite thoroughbreds, both pledged their
support and expertise to promote the growth of a
thoroughbred breeding and racing industry via the
Ordos Breeding Project.
The economic possibilities that come through
the creation of an ‘equine centric city’ were clearly
outlined at a meeting with Mr Matt Bevin, Governor 列克星敦市被誉为世界马都，这里是全球马产业的中心，在
of Kentucky, with tours of Keeneland, WinStar 育种、比赛、拍卖和销售、兽医科学及马业教育等各领域的位
Farm and the University of Kentucky and with a 于世界领先地位。而鄂尔多斯不仅拥有历史悠久的马文化根
firsthand experience at the famed Kentucky Oaks 基和产业氛围，近几年积极促进马产业的发展所获成就更是
alongside more than 100,000 other fans. At Churchill 有目共睹。鄂尔多斯与美国肯塔基州的深入合作，无疑将在
Downs Racecourse, where the Kentucky Oaks and 中美马业合作的历史中写下重要的一笔；而此次成果，亦汇
Kentucky Derby are held, the delegation was invited 聚了无数中美马业人士的经历多年努力，而CHC无疑是合作
as honoured guests of CHC to a private viewing of 背后的助推和引荐者。
the new Kentucky Derby Museum. The exhibition,
particularly the details of the 13th Triple Crown 16 | Friday, May 17, 2019
winner Justify, made a profound impression on the
visitors. IN DEPTH
在繁重的访问行程后，鄂尔多斯代表团也现场体验了第145
届肯 塔 基 橡树 大赛盛 况。并以C H C贵客 的身 份被特 邀 独 家
参观了肯塔基德比博物馆和新开幕的“正义与三冠王历史” What do Inner Mongolia and Kentucky have in common? Deep roots in the horse world and an urge to race,
展区。该展区为庆贺2018年三冠王赛马“正义”而特别布展。 as May Zhou and Zhang Yuan report from Kentucky
通过采访及奖杯展示等等形式讲述了关于“正义”与其练马
师，马主团体和重要关联事物的故事。 By MAY ZHOU and
07_Justify’s Triple Crown ZHANG YUAN in Lexington, Kentucky
trophies 三冠王奖杯
08_Visiting WinStar Farm Tmayzhou@chinadailyusa.com
参观赢星育马场 he day before the Kentucky Oaks,
09_Private viewing of the a delegation from Ordos, Inner
Kentucky Derby Museum Mongolia, China, stood enchant-
08 参观肯塔基德比博物馆，获得 ed by the sight of WinStar Farm
独家接待 in Versailles, Kentucky: gentle
10_China Daily (USA) was rolling hills covered in lush grass so verdant
present on the day to write that the ground seemed carpeted in green,
an article on the significance the pastures dotted with trees and ponds and
of this visit to Kentucky for framed by elegant fencing, while here and
the upcoming Chinese Horse there, a few beautiful horses grazed.
Industry 《中国日报》美国版对
此次鄂尔多斯市政府代表团访 It was the quintessential image of central
美进行了独家特别报道，并通 Kentucky, world capital of thoroughbred
过其发行的报纸及多个新媒体 horse breeding, and racing.
平台宣传此次访问对中国马业
的重要意义 There are roughly 450 horse farms in the
09 region. The soil is rich in limestone, which is China is very real, especially in Inner Mongo-
said to be responsible for the greenest grass
anywhere and for producing the world’s fast-
est thoroughbred horses.
When Kenny Troutt and Bill Casner bought
the farm in 2000, it was only 400 acres. Today,
at 2,700 acres, WinStar is one of the largest
horse farms in Kentucky, with one of the best
records.
About 500 horses live there. Of them, about
150 are studs, and of them, the most valued
sire is 26-year-old Distorted Humor.
“Distorted Humor is our best stallion ever,”
Elliott Walden, WinStar president and CEO,
told the Ordos delegation, mostly municipal
government officials and executives from
Inner Mongolia Yitai Desert Star Horse
Industries (YTDS).
Ordos recently received approval from
China’s central government to develop the
second national equine disease free zone.
The Ordos visitors were spending a few days
in Kentucky to learn about the value chain
of the race horse business from breeding to
the track.
The stud is key to breeding race horses,
Walden told the visitors. Distorted Humor
came with the farm and was initially valued
at $1.25 million — 50 shares at $25,000 each.
“With the first crop, his offspring Funny
Cide won the Kentucky Derby in 2003. He
immediately turned into a $100-million
horse. At his height, before the 2008 finan-
cial market crash, his stud fee was as much
as $300,000 per foal. He has 100 foals a year
and generates $30 million a year.
“[So far] he has generated $500 million in
stud fees,” said Walden, pointing to a portrait
of Distorted Humor over the fireplace mantle.
Among various trophies on display at
WinStar, the Triple Crown won last year by
Justify — a thoroughbred that was co-owned
by WinStar, China Horse Club and two other
partners — attracted the most attention from
the visitors.
In 2018, Justify became the 13th horse
to win the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby,
Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes) in
144 years of racing history in the US. He was
later sold for $75 million. His 2019 stud fee
is $150,000.
In the Kentucky Derby Museum at
Churchill Downs in Louisville, Justify now
boasts a special room enshrining his impres-
sive success.
Justify’s achievement also propelled the co-
owner China Horse Club, a relative newcom-
er to the game, into becoming a top player in
world-class horse racing.
When Malaysian-born, Fujian native archi-
tect Teo Ah Khing and his team designed
the Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse in
Dubai, which opened in 2010, Teo fell in love
with horses and branched into horse racing.
In 2012, Teo founded the China Horse Club
(CHC) aiming to become Asia’s premier life-
style, business and thoroughbred racing club.
Many of its members are from China.
“We wanted to be one of the major players,”
said Teo. “With that objective in mind, we
assembled a team, we studied hard, we iden-
tified horses and we partnered with giants in
the business.”
CHC started winning races around the
world in 2014. In a few shorts years, CHC has
built a substantial record of success, winning
more than 450 races in 13 countries, includ-
ing 31 G1 feature events, the highest level of
High in the saddle
Qi Bixiletu, director of the Standing Committee of the Ordos Municipal People’s Congress, gives stallion Distorted Humor a treat at
WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. MAY ZHOU / CHINA DAILY
Left: Foreground, from left: Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin welcomes Teo Ah Khing and Zhang Donghai from Inner Mongolia
Yitai Desert Star Horse Industries on May 2 in Frankfort, Kentucky. MAY ZHOU / CHINA DAILY
Right: More than 100,000 people attended the Kentucky Oaks race on May 2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville. MAY ZHOU / CHINA DAILY
Bottom: Horses graze in a verdant pasture at WinStar Farm in Versailles. ZHANG YUAN / CHINA DAILY
racing achievement.
CHC currently owns more than 700 thor-
oughbred horses and is ranked seventh in
horse racing worldwide, and No. 1 in Asia.
In addition to thoroughbred racing, Teo is
also keen on developing the horse industry
in China. He wants Ordos to become China’s
horse capital.
“The relevance of the horse industry for
lia, where the horse culture runs very deep in
the lifestyle of its people. Now the challenge is no longer a dream but a reality we achieved
to translate that culture into a mature horse
industry.
“Our vision is to embrace and learn from
the best successes in America, and then use
the Chinese way to make it into a top show-
case for our horse culture in China,” Teo
explained.
Since 2013, CHC has been organizing a
trademark event, the China Equine Cultur-
al Festival held both inside and outside of
China. The 2017 festival in Ordos welcomed
competitors from other countries and the
events were live-streamed to other countries
with viewership in the millions.
In 2016, Teo formed the joint venture Inner
Mongolia Yitai Desert Star Horse Industries
(YTDS) with Zhang Donghai, chairman of
Inner Mongolia Yitai Group, a coal company.
“Teo has developed a horse business in the
past few years around the world, and now
he’s trying to develop China’s horse industry.
Eventually we became partners. In a way, he
led me into the horse industry,” said Zhang.
Zhang’s hometown is Ordos, the gathering
place for Mongolian people in the traditional
horse culture, so the business comes natu-
rally to him.
YTDS has already signed a 20-year
contract to manage the 27,000-seat Ordos
Racecourse, where they plan to hold their
first international event in 2020.
YTDS has also established a breeding cen-
ter in the Ordos Equine Disease Free Zone.
More than 100 thoroughbreds have been
imported from Australia, New Zealand and
the US to breed China’s own racing stock.
YTDS has the ambition to eventually build
a breeding center encompassing more than
4,000 acres to breed upwards of 2,000 horses.
“Hopefully, the dream of Justify — which is
— can encourage and induce the Chinese to
get involved. We can do it in China and be one
of the best in the world,” Teo said.
China is certainly poised to develop its
horse industry. In December of last year, the
National Development and Reform Com-
mission named horse racing as one of the
core projects to develop Hainan province’s
international tourism.
In Guangzhou, the Hong Kong Jockey Club
manages Conghua Racecourse, where five
races were held in March to promote racing.
Horse-related projects are also being devel-
oped in Chengdu, Wuhan and elsewhere in
China.
As China gradually puts forward policies to
develop its horse industry, some see potential ing between Keeneland and China.
obstacles in the way. Betting on races has
been prohibited on the Chinese mainland
since 1949. Some investors view the ban as a
problem and stay on the fence.
But that, to Teo, is a misconception.
“A lot of people don’t understand China’s
horse industry. They think that without the
initial betting, horse racing can’t start.
“I think China should start in two steps,”
he suggested. “The first is to build all the
GLOBAL EDITION | CHINA DAILY
infrastructure, like what we are seeing in
Kentucky — breeding, growing the pastures,
getting all of the veterinary support and poli- China.
cies in place. Then the other things can come
in.”
Teo does not only want to see China-bred
thoroughbreds on racetracks around the
world, he also wants to see Chinese jockeys
on the horses. He has sent Chinese jockeys
to train and race in other countries. One of
them, Qing Yong, is emerging as a top jockey.
“We want to make a Yao Ming out of him.
You will see the rise of Chinese jockeys,” said with the Ordos delegation. Lexington and
Teo.
At WinStar, the Ordos delegation visited
stallions Distorted Humor, Daredevil and
others. Last year, YTDS acquired eight brood-
mares impregnated at WinStar by Daredevil
— the fastest two-year-old colt since 2010.
At Ordos, seven mares have given birth to
seven foals, with one more on the way.
In addition, YTDS signed an MOU (memo-
randum of understanding) with WinStar for
a strategic partnership to bring its breeding
practices and experience to China.
Another MOU between YTDS and Keene-
land Association, Inc in Lexington calls for a
strategic partnership to promote horse trad-
Keeneland is the largest thoroughbred
horse auction house in the United States. Last
year, its sales volume reached $690 million,
a quarter of which was from international
sales. Justify was purchased at Keeneland in
2016 for $500,000.
“The Chinese marketplace is such a
dominating market around the world,” said
William Thomason, president and CEO of
Keeneland. “We have been looking at it with
interest. We know the history of Chinese
07
people with the horse. I think there is great
potential for our two countries to work
together to introduce and grow the sport,
and do it in a way that we know will be at a
level of excellence that people will respect.”
The delegation also conducted in-depth
conversations with Kentucky government
officials and key horse industry players dur-
ing their visit. Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin
took time to personally meet the visitors from
“We are very excited about strengthen-
ing the relationship between Kentucky and
China in the horse race industry,” Bevin said.
“Nothing makes us happier than seeing a
Kentucky-raised horse running somewhere
in the world and winning,” he added.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gordon organized
a forum to talk about the horse business
Ordos are in discussions to form a sister-city
relationship.
“Both Lexington and Ordos share the horse
industry. I think there is great potential for
more partnerships and relations in the thor-
oughbred industry and other industries we
share in common,” said Gordon. “It’s just
unlimited.”
Qi Bixiletu, director of the Standing Com-
mittee of the Ordos Municipal People’s Con-
gress, concurred: “Ordos is at the same lati-
tude as Lexington, has preserved a traditional
horse culture, and is the place where the leg-
endary Genghis Khan began. There is great
potential for the two cities to work together.”
According to Chauncey Morris, executive
director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Asso-
ciation, five counties in a 40-mile radius in
central Kentucky are responsible for produc-
ing 40 percent of all horses in the United
States, and 238 stallions in this region are
responsible for covering 50 percent of brood-
mares in North America.
“Lexington is really the heart of horse
industry here,” Morris said. “In 200 years
we were able to figure out the relationship
between universities, government private
industries to make the infrastructure neces-
sary to have the most valued breeding indus-
try in the world.
“Thoroughbred racing exists in 69 coun-
tries. At any given sale, we will have indi-
viduals from 50 countries coming here to
buy horses. As the horse industry develops in
China, we are certainly keen to increase our
export there,” said Morris.
Mayor Gordon is proud of Lexington’s
reputation as the horse capital of the world.
“This year, all but two of the 20 Derby
contenders were foaled and raised in central
Kentucky,” she said.
Also meeting the Ordos visitors was Dun-
can Taylor, president and CEO of Taylor
Made, a family-owned horse farm.
Taylor said he’s having his father’s book —
Joe Taylor’s Complete Guide to Breeding and
Raising Racehorses: Advice from America’s
Master Horseman — translated into Chinese.
“My dad had 40 years of working in the
thoroughbred industry, he basically put all
his knowledge into the book,” said Taylor.
“We are having it translated into Chinese so
we can share our knowledge with the Chinese
horseman.”
David Blackwell, provost of the University
of Kentucky, told the Ordos visitors that the
university’s Gluck Equine Research Center
studies all elements of the equine business
and management. It has much to offer for
exchanges with China’s equine industry.
At Churchill Downs, the delegation
watched the Kentucky Oaks, a race for three-
year-old fillies. In 2017, CHC’s co-owned Able
Tasman won the Oaks and was sold earlier
this year for $5 million by Keeneland.
Improbable, a stallion co-owned by CHC,
WinStar Farm and SF Racing, won qualifica-
tion to compete in this year’s Kentucky Derby
on May 4.
Improbable finished fifth but placed fourth
in the 2019 Kentucky Derby because the No.
1 horse, Maximum Security, was disqualified.
Viewers said they were impressed by
Improbable’s performance at the Derby, con-
sidering that he was boxed in for quite a while
during the race.
MAjestic 17