China’s emerging jockey ranks were provided with a royal endorsement with Her Royal Highness Princess Anne visiting the Wuhan Business School’s jockey academy during her four-day visit to China in July.
The Princess Royal’s visit to China coincided with the 45th Anniversary of UK-China Ambassadorial ties and the Vice Patron of the British Horse Society ensured she took in one of her great loves – horses and horse riding.
Qin Yong, China’s most accomplished international jockey, was personally invited to be on hand for the occasion and demonstrated the technique which has seen him ride to success not only across a myriad of feature carnivals in China but also overseas.
Resplendent in the China Horse Club’s iconic red and yellow silks, Qin Yong spend several minutes in the company of Her Royal Highness Princess Anne who was interested in both the experiences he has enjoyed as a rider and in his ongoing studies.
The Princess Royal has long been recognized an exceptional horsewoman in her own right having competed as part of Britain’s Three-Day-Event team at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 and having won the European Three-Day-Event (1971). Her involvement in the Olympics has remained unwavering and at present Her Royal Highness remains the President of the British Olympic Association and a Member of the International Olympic Committee.
“Her Royal Highness Princess Anne is avery amiable lady. We talk for a few minutes and she was very interested in my studying and in my riding experiences,” said Qin Yong.
“The [China Horse Club] jockey silks interested her and I explained their meaning to her. Meeting the Princess Royal was a lovely experience and has me focused more than ever on my continued studying and on practicing my riding.”
Days after his royal interlude, Qin Yong returned to Australia to continue his involvement in the CHC China Dream Project. The accomplished jockey has been accepted in the internationally recognized Racing NSW Apprentice School, a program that will fine tune his skillset further and which will prepare him to be licensed to ride in races in Australia.
In 2016 Qin Yong created international headlines when becoming the first jockey from Mainland China to ride a winner at a thoroughbred program outside of Asia. He accomplished the feat at Barbados’ feature Gold Cup meeting. Both he and colleague Chen Li were the first Chinese jockeys to ride in Barbados in the nation’s 171-year history.
Earlier this year Qin Yong and fellow rider Liu San Ping were sent to Australia as part of the CHC China Dream Project to use their industry understanding to learn more about Australia’s racing and breeding industries and to bring important lessons back to Ordos, Inner Mongolia.
The CHC China Dream Project promotes opportunities for talented young Chinese men and women from within the thoroughbred industry.
If you would like to learn more about the China Horse Club exclusive membership offer, please email your inquiry to horses@chinahorseclub.com