Guangzhou is poised to resurrect international thoroughbred horse racing this October following a 27-year suspension, marking a significant milestone in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s integrated development strategy. The Conghua Racecourse will host this landmark event, organized under the operational standards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and governed by international racing regulations.
Unlike previous iterations discontinued due to gambling associations, the upcoming event is explicitly positioned as a demonstration race without betting facilities. The competition will feature world-class trainers, elite international jockeys, and thoroughbreds competing under standardized international racing protocols. Concurrently, authorities will inaugurate a horse racing experience center to enhance public engagement.
This revival forms part of a broader strategic cooperation framework between Guangzhou and Hong Kong’s equine industries. Wu Sa, Party chief of Guangzhou’s development and reform commission, confirmed during February legislative meetings that the city would pursue new equine industry agreements with Hong Kong, emphasizing the integration of horse racing with cultural tourism initiatives.
The Conghua district, leveraging its ecological advantages and historical equestrian culture, is developing a specialized cooperation zone for the Guangzhou-Hong Kong horse industry. The region will host horse-themed cultural events, specialized tourism routes, and high-end industrial development forums to capitalize on this initiative.
Infrastructure development underscores this ambition: The Hong Kong Jockey Club-built Conghua Racecourse—inaugurated in 2018 with four tracks, 12 stables, veterinary facilities, and a horse swimming pool—can simultaneously accommodate over 1,100 racehorses. Its recently completed second-phase expansion features a grandstand with 9,500 spectator capacity, making it mainland China’s largest racing facility.
The economic impact is already measurable: Guangzhou Customs reported supervising 5,927 horse entries/exits in early 2025, a 28.6% year-on-year increase. Local businesses like Chen Daqing’s grocery store near Conghua’s hot spring scenic spot have noted increased tourist retention since the racecourse’s opening.
Professor Lin Jiang of Sun Yat-sen University highlighted the capital-intensive nature of horse racing’s extended value chain, suggesting Conghua could evolve into South China’s premier hub for horse breeding, auctions, and import-export operations. This development aligns with the Greater Bay Area’s 2019 outline plan encouraging Guangdong-Hong Kong collaboration in equestrian sports and streamlined horse quarantine procedures.