Page 154 - MAjestic v7

INSIDER
Thoroughbred horseracing is an important spectator sport
in Australia, which recognises the importance of a jockey
to the development of the sport. Qin Yong is currently
apprenticed to trainer Brad Widdup, who spoke glowingly
of his apprentice’s drive and dedication.
“Qin Yong has a wife and child back home in China, so he
is doing it tough to live his dream,” Widdup said. “He is a
terrific young bloke and works really hard. He is a great help
to me. Now that he has broken through in Australia and
with the continuing support from China Horse Club, I’m
sure he will start to get more rides at country and provincial
meetings.”
In fact, Qin Yong is already an accomplished rider in China,
having ridden successfully for a number of years. Despite
his prior industry experience, Qin Yong had to start from
scratch in Australia. Having spent a year completing a
jockey programme, it is difficult to imagine the effort that he
had to put forth to accomplish this. Through experiencing
the country’s rich racing heritage and interactions with
accomplished jockeys from Australia and overseas, Qin Yong
could not help but feel that it is going to be a long road ahead Desert Star but, away from home, he had to adapt to a new
before he can achieve world-class rider status.
“I have a long way to go. Compared to Australia, where
horseracing is an established spectator sport, China is
considered less developed in the horseracing industry.
However, I feel that action speaks louder than words; it is a
fact that the Chinese people, or Asians in general, are not as
advanced as to our Australian counterparts in this industry,
but what we lack in strength, we make up for in diligence.
One of our greatest strengths is our meticulous nature,
which will significantly enhance our skills.”
152 MAjestic
PURSUING ONE’S DREAMS
Launched in 2015, the CHC China Dream Project is
an initiative of the CHC. It aims at promoting growth
in the local horse industry and providing international
opportunities for talented young Chinese men and women
in the sport of horseracing. In 2016, as part of the CHC
China Dream Project, Qin Yong and fellow jockey Chen Li
were sent to compete in Barbados, where Qin Yong became
the first jockey from Mainland China to win a race at the
Barbados Turf Club in its 171-year racing history. In 2017,
Qin Yong and Liu Sanping were offered the opportunity
to learn from Australia’s established horseracing industry.
Qin Yong stayed on to enrol in the Australian Racing and
Equine Academy in the hope of becoming Australia’s first
licensed jockey from Mainland China.
Qin Yong begins training at three in the morning daily,
typically for five to six consecutive hours. Apprentice school
activities comprise a theoretical component and all relevant
aspects of on-the-job training to give an apprentice enough
track work and race-riding experience. Qin Yong had
previously undergone similar training experience at Yitai
way of life and overcome new challenges.
Besides completing the theoretical component of the
training, Qin Yong had to ride a minimum of 20 barrier
trials, during which he was assessed for attributes like
strength and balance, and overall competency. Only riders
who have successfully completed the 20 barrier trials are
permitted to ride in races.
“I feel that I have become a true horseman in the past year,”
said Qin Yong. “Over here, it is a different experience