08 March 2015

Meydan Once Again Teams With Chengdu Municipal Government for China Raceday

2015 Chengdu Dubai International Cup Scheduled Friday April 3

Meydan Group and the Chengdu Municipal Government will join forces once more to stage the second running of the Chengdu Dubai International Cup race day.

The race meeting is organised by the Meydan Group, under the Emirates Racing Authority rules of racing (a signatory to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities), in partnership with the Chengdu Municipal Government, the Chengdu Sports Bureau, the Wenjiang District Government and China Guangsha Group.

First held on Sunday April 6, 2014, the race meeting will once again take place at Jinma Racecourse in the Garden City of Chengdu in China’s Wenjiang District. Race fields will consist of horses transported from the UAE to Chengdu. They will then be shipped back home to the UAE.

Wenjiang spokesperson said: “China’s long and storied history is closely tied to the horse and we are pleased that this passion for the horse continues to this day. Last year we became a part of history as the partnership with the UAE brought international racing to the District of Wenjiang with the first Chengdu Dubai International Cup. Now we prepare for the second running of this race day as we develop the sport of horse racing in China. We are proud of this event and our bond that has grown between the District of Wenjiang, the Emirate of Dubai and the wider United Arab Emirates.”

Five turf races over distances from 1400m to 2418m will be contested by horses prepared by Dubai Racing Club trainers and ridden by jockeys who take part in the UAE race season and the Dubai World Cup Carnival. The feature race will be presented by Longines.

Malih Al Basti, Meydan Group Board Member and Chairman of Meydan Racing Committee said: “Following the success of the 2014 Chengdu Dubai International Cup race day we are happy to announce our return to China for a second year. The strategic partnership that was forged between Meydan Group and the Chinese authorities for developing the sport of Thoroughbred racing in mainland China has opened up important channels of communication and this is something that we will continue to support and develop.”

Lou Ming, Chairman of the Board of Directors of China Guangsha Group said we are proud to once again be teamed with the District of Wenjiang and the Emirate of Dubai as we present the second running of the Chengdu Dubai International Cup. This event is more than a race day, the Chengdu Dubai International Cup showcases the cooperation between China and the UAE. We at Guangsha salute this teamwork and look forward to continued success for all our endeavors.”

Chengdu is situated in the South West of China and is the capital of Sichuan province. It is a city of historical and cultural significance and acts as a centre for politics, culture, science, education, commerce, finance and international trade. An accessible transportation and communications hub, Chengdu also possesses the largest airport in the region. It is one of the largest cities on mainland China.