Horse racing gallops beyond virus

Prizes for winners include a cushion, cooking oil and even a car

Wuhan: Blue cushions are up for grabs as masked spectators cheer horses galloping to the finish in Wuhan, ground zero for the pandemic but also a major centre for racing in China.

The city of 11 million people is synonymous with the coronavirus, which emerged in Wuhan about a year ago, but far less known is its vibrant horse racing scene dating back more than 150 years.

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At first glance Wuhan Open Horse Racing, which sprang back into action in October after the city reopened from lockdown, is much like the sport anywhere in the world.

There are thoroughbreds with names such as “Freedom Fighter” and “Ultimate Perfection”; jockeys wear coloured silks; spectators in a grandstand check the form guide to pick a winner.
But there is one crucial difference: gambling is broadly illegal in mainland China.

Instead, people scan a QR code on their mobile phone and select a winner. If that horse comes in, they win a prize.On a recent Saturday at Orient Lucky City racecourse, the prize was a cushion.

But it can also be cooking oil, phone credit or — if you guess several winners in a row — a rice cooker or even a car. There are no cash prizes.

For Mr. Zhang, a spectator who declined to give his first name, the absence of betting does not matter.”It’s different from foreign countries, the fun here is watching the horses in action and soaking up the atmosphere,” the 65-year-old, who lives nearby and is making his second visit to the races, said behind a face mask.

Jin Lei, who is attending with two friends, said it was his first time at the races and there is a thrill in “getting close up to feel the power of the horses”.

“I came here more out of novelty,” the 27-year-old medical consultant added.Entry for spectators starts at 50 yuan ($8) although at least two people told AFP that they were given free tickets.

Jacky Wu, chairman of Orient Lucky Horse Group, which built and runs the racecourse, said there would normally be between 3,000 and 5,000 spectators. Xiang Yan, a jockey from the city, said it was a relief to get back in the saddle having been locked down for 76 days.”Riding every day is my habit and not doing so for a long time, I missed it,” said the 24-year-old.