Grand National pursuit

Equestrian sports are attracting growing attention among Chinese.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Still, professionals believe there is room for improvement.

"It is urgent to develop a coordinated program of races with good prize money incorporating all the principal racecourses in China under a national horse racing authority," says Louis Romanet, president of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

Teo is cheered to see regulations being established in China, and he says international practices of the thoroughbred industry have been introduced in the past two years. But complete, national, uniform rules are still absent.

"Perhaps, first of all, we need live broadcasting of thoroughbred racing on China's mainstream television, which has never been realized before," says the equestrian veteran, who hopes this can be achieved at next year's festival.

"The work will be much easier when it's recognized by the public through mass media."

Timeline

· 1780: First running of "The Derby" is held in Great Britain, which has come to define modern thoroughbred racing around the world.

· 1848: Thoroughbred racing in the Chinese mainland begins in Shanghai.

· 1863: Horseracing begins in Tianjin and the city becomes the leading racing center in northern China. At its peak Tianjin hosts 50 race meetings within a year.

· 1979: The China Equestrian Association is founded as the organization representing China in International Equestrian Federation and International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

· 2002: The China Horse Industry Association is formed to supervise horse breeding and registry.