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Australia’s great tradition of thoroughbred horse racing again joins with the vibrancy of Chinese culture as Canterbury Park and Royal Randwick host the Australian Turf Club’s Chinese Festival of Racing on 7 and 15 February 2020.

The two-day festival will feature world-class horse racing, superb food, Chinese entertainment and stunning fashion. It marks the Australian Turf Club’s fifth Asian-focused racing carnival, embracing the increasing interest and investment in horse racing from the Chinese community.

The ATC Chinese Festival of Racing coincides with a new Chinese Lunar Year allowing families and friends to celebrate their heritage amidst the Australian way of life at the racetrack.

The opening night of the Chinese Festival of Racing on Friday 7 February at Canterbury Park will have a community celebration incorporating a themed event with long-standing partners Australia Chinese Jockey Club.

This is followed the next Saturday on 15 February with the running of the Apollo Stakes alongside a suite of feature Group and Listed races. A number of activities including the Polaris Media led Chinese Festival of Racing fashion luncheon will be held across the raceday.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Commercial, Corina Black, said the Chinese Festival of Racing aimed to introduce new customers to the live thrill of horse racing at one of Australia’s best sporting and entertainment venues.

“Sydney is home to some of the strongest racing in the world, matched by our premium spectator facilities and superb hospitality at Royal Randwick,” Ms Black said.

“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.

“The program of racing and off-track cultural entertainment including fashion and hospitality experiences will bring these traditions together at Royal Randwick as more families of Chinese heritage call Sydney and Australia home.

“The ATC has for some time been offering form guides translated in Chinese, and the Chinese Festival of Racing will allow even more people to enjoy and learn about our great sport.

“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.”

Australian Turf Club will offer a range of family activities on each raceday, including Chinese entertainment and performances, food vendors, guided tours and a fashion function.

The ATC’s Foundation Partner TAB is also a fully integrated partner with the Chinese Festival of Racing, and will offer a dedicated area for Chinese customers featuring wagering services in Chinese, and bi-lingual staff.

TAB will sponsor the running of the Group 2 $200,000 TAB Light Fingers Stakes on 15 February.

The festival will also attract an international audience with a large number of overseas visitors coming to Sydney.

ATC General Manager Racing, Wagering and International, James Ross, said: “The ATC Chinese Festival of Racing has become a truly world-class racing event and is now a key fixture in the Sydney racing and visitation calendar.

“Now in its fifth year, this event combines high-quality racing with a backdrop of rich Chinese culture.

“We are seeing a growing number of Chinese visitors attracted to Sydney with nearly 600,000 arrivals last year.

“An event such as the Chinese Festival of Racing is well placed to provide a unique racing and entertainment experience to a broad range of international visitors.

“In addition, the number of local and internationally based Chinese owners participating in Sydney racing continues to grow each year.

“It was a significant occasion this Spring for Hong Kong-based owner David Lui in winning the Group 1 Moet and Chandon Spring Champion Stakes, highlighting the rewards of racing horses in Sydney.”

Royal Randwick is situated just minutes from Sydney’s CBD and offers unlimited free parking inside the racecourse from the High Street entrance.

A light rail service operates from Circular Quay and Central Station to Royal Randwick Station, directly opposite the racecourse in Alison Rd.

Further information for the Chinese Festival of Racing can be found at theatc.com.au/cfor2020 For all ticketing, hospitality and general information go to theatc.com.au