Owning a racehorse from China, the right way

Commercial horse racing with betting does not exist on the mainland, because gambling is banned there apart from the state lotteries. So clients in China who want a racehorse usually own one that races abroad: in Hong Kong, Australia, Britain, Ireland, France or the UAE, under each country's own owner rules. We help you choose, check and buy the horse, and hand it to a licensed trainer there.

Who this is for

• Owners who want to race overseas, in Australia, Europe or the Gulf, where owner registration is open to overseas clients who pass the checks.
• Hong Kong owners and applicants with Hong Kong Jockey Club approval. See our Hong Kong shortlist service.
• Breeders and clubs looking for broodmares, sport horses or purebred Arabians.
• Chinese-speaking clients abroad, from Singapore to London, who want one agent across several countries.

Where your horse can race

• Hong Kong. Racing is run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, separately from the mainland. Owners need the Club's approval and an import permit won in its yearly ballot. We cannot obtain either for anyone. Read Hong Kong PP and PPG permits explained.
• Australia. Owners register with Racing Australia. A short flight from China, a big spring carnival, and a strict import quarantine. See our Australia page.
• Britain, Ireland and France. The deepest racing and sales in the world, open to overseas owners who register with the BHA, HRI or France Galop. See Britain, Ireland and France.
• The UAE. Our home ground: the winter season at Meydan, with owner registration through the Emirates Racing Authority. See buying a racehorse in Dubai.

In every country, licensed trainers train. We find the horse, check it, buy it and place it with a trainer you approve, then keep you updated.

What we do for you

• Shortlists. 3-5 horses that fit your budget and the country where they will race, with form, video, pedigree notes and our honest pick.
• Vet review before money moves. Independent vets, X-rays and a wind scope. You see every report.
• Bidding to your limit. At the sales we buy from worldwide, in your name, never above the price you set in writing. Or quietly in private.
• Shipping coordination with licensed specialist shippers: papers, insurance, quarantine bookings and the flight.

Bringing a horse into mainland China (checked 22 Oct 2026)

Breeding stock, sport horses and Arabians can be imported to the mainland, but every shipment follows a veterinary protocol agreed between China's customs authority (GACC) and the exporting country. Expect an import permit, pre-export isolation and testing, an official health certificate and quarantine checks; GACC may even send its own officers to inspect the horses and facilities before export. Example: Australia-China protocol for horses (Australian Department of Agriculture). The exact tests and days depend on the country and the horse, so we and the shipper confirm the current protocol before anything is bought.

Near Guangzhou, the Conghua Equine Disease Free Zone, first used for the equestrian events of the 2010 Asian Games, is recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health. The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Conghua Racecourse, a training centre for Hong Kong racehorses, sits inside it (Hong Kong Government, 2018). It is a special zone with its own rules, not a general route into the mainland.

Money: the simple rule

You always pay the seller or the sales company directly, through lawful banking. We take no part in moving money, and we never help anyone get around currency or import rules. China has strict foreign-exchange rules, so please talk to your bank and your own advisers first. Our fee is quoted in US dollars.

Fees

5% fee (min US$5,000), agreed in writing. You pay the seller directly; your money never goes through us. If we are ever paid by both sides, both are told in writing first. Budgets from US$50,000 per horse. Vetting, insurance, shipping and quarantine are quoted before you commit. Full details: fees and process.

What we cannot do

We cannot get you an owner licence or a Hong Kong permit, give tax or legal advice, or promise a win. The authorities decide the first two, your advisers handle the third, and the horse has the final say on the fourth. A horse can win, lose or get injured. We promise careful work and plain answers.