China Jockey Club proves illicit  

"中国赛马会"疑为三无组织 圈内人担心影响秩序

被《人民日报·海外版》报道过的“中国赛马会”遭“主办单位”辟谣，多家官方机构称与此会没有任何关系。民政部主管的《公益时报》称“中国赛马会”为没有合法注册、没有彩票相关部门支持、没有合法官网的“三无”组织。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- Investigations have revealed that the China Jockey Club is run illegally, crashing rumors that China might ease its ban on horse racing and associated betting.

On October 16, state news outlet people.com.cn ran an article about the launch of the China Jockey Club and its gambling arm in Beijing in September, followed by reports by other major media sources.

The news provoked speculations that China might remove its decades-long ban on horse racing, providing quite a boost to related stocks on the day.

However, on October 20, China's official Philanthropy Times, run by the Civil Affairs Bureau, reported that the club is illegal. While no registration information could be found, its website server is located in Maine, the United States. Most sponsors and partners listed, including certain government bodies, have also denied any relation to the club.

Lily Davis, club secretary, said it is still "undergoing preparation," and that it did invite credible organizations to the opening ceremony, though most did not attend "for some reason."

Davis also denied that the club had anything to do with the article on people.com.cn, saying she didn't know how it came about. She added that the first international horse racing event would be held in Beijing next October as planned.

Senior horse racing reporter Li Peng said instead of promoting races in China, the club and all its drama would likely scare away sponsors and cause the industry to regress.