ATC to expand Chinese Festival of Racing

The Australian Turf Club will expand the Chinese Festival of Racing to include the Apollo Stakes, the race which signals the return of wonder mare Winx.

In its second year, the festival will encompass two race meetings at Randwick on February 4 and 11 which coincide with the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The first meeting features the Group Two Breeders Classic and Group Three Eskimo Prince Stakes and the second features the Group Two Apollo and Light Fingers Stakes.

ATC chief operating officer Tony Partridge said the festival aimed to introduce new customers to racing.

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“Australia and China have both enjoyed horse racing live as a sport from their earliest histories, from the early 1800s here and dating back some thousands of years in China,” Partridge said.

“We want to bring these traditions together at Royal Randwick as more families of Chinese heritage call Sydney and Australia home.”

As part of a push to promote Chinese interest and investment in the sport, Racing NSW has recently made its website available in Chinese and the ATC offer translated form guides.

The festival will include Chinese food and entertainment as well as sport clinics, karaoke and a fashion show featuring the finalists of the Miss Australia Chinese pageant.

“With the start of a new Chinese Lunar Year, the Australian Turf Club looks forward to welcoming families and people of all ages from all sections of the local Chinese community,” Partridge said.