Horses for courses in Guangzhou

&nbsp;Authorities in Guangzhou and Hong Kong signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday to construct equestrian facilities for the 16th Asian Games next year. <p>Under the memorandum, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will cooperate with the Guangzhou-based Pearl River Enterprises Group to develop an equestrian field in Conghua, about 40 km north of downtown Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. </p><p>"The venues will allow Guangzhou to become the mainland's first city to hold equestrian events," said Xu Ruisheng, vice mayor of Guangzhou. </p><p>Hong Kong will play an important role in the preparations for November's Games as it successfully hosted equestrian events at last year's Beijing Olympic Games. </p><p></p><p align="center"></p><p align="right"><img id="2011842" title="" alt="Horses for courses in Guangzhou" src="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/attachement/jpg/site1/20091203/0013729e4a9d0c814dc23e.jpg" align="right" border="0" md5="" sourcedescription="编辑提供的本地文件" sourcename="本地文件" style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 359px;"/></p><p>Early reports said Hong Kong and Macao would not host the Games' equestrian events due to high costs and difficulties renting fields. </p><p>"Support from Hong Kong will help ensure the smooth running of the equestrian events, which are an important part of the Asian Games," Xu, also deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee, said. </p><p>Besides construction of the venues, authorities in Hong Kong will provide technical support to their Guangzhou counterparts. </p><p>After the Games, the 150-hectare field will be renovated to meet the standards of racehorse training in Hong Kong, HKJC chairman Johan Chan said. </p><p>"The field opens a way for us to acquire more areas to secure racing's future," Chan said. </p><p>Next year's equestrian competitions, which will include eight smaller events apart from the Games, are expected to attract about 200 horses from 20 countries and regions. </p><p>The disease-free zone, which will range from Hong Kong to Conghua, will allow overseas horses to compete in the mainland for the first time. </p><p>"All horses will be strictly inspected as soon as they land," Chan said. </p><p>Horses for the event will be introduced via Hong Kong to Guangzhou, Chan said, adding the animals will be kept in designated areas. </p><p>Quarantine will be conducted by authorities in Guangdong and Shandong provinces. </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Courtesy of China Daily</p><p><strong>Link：<a href="http://www.horse.org.cn/bbs/dispbbs.asp?boardID=37&amp;ID=61744&amp;page=1">Notice of Ministry of Agriculture of People’s Republic of China</a></strong></p>

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