On April 6, Chengdu, Sichuan province, hosted the first ever horse race in China that had licensed imported horses from all over the world.

The Dubai-based Meydan Group, the organizer of Dubai's World Cup, one of the richest horse racing events of the year with $27.25 million in prize money, put the race together through a partnership with the Chengdu government.

"China was always a part of our plans and we wanted to develop a relationship through horse racing," Saeed al-Tayer, chairman of the Meydan Group, told the Gulf News prior to the race in Chengdu.

Fifty horses, under the care of 47 trainers from Dubai, were airlifted to the capital of Sichuan province to win a share of the 3.75 million yuan ($600,000) in prize money.

Industry insiders said the collaboration between the two Asian countries could set a tone for the global equine industry, which had been dominated by Western countries.

"Twenty years ago, tennis was the sport in China. Ten years ago, it was golf. Now, it's time for horse racing," said Juan-Carlos Capelli, vice-president and head of international marketing for Longines, the luxury watch designer.

The Switzerland watch house, which has been the official timekeeper for the Dubai World Cup for more than a decade, was also the timekeeper at the Chengdu race.

Eden Harrington, general manager of China Horse Club, the first international joint venture into horse racing and breeding in China, believes horse racing is “more than an event”.

"There will be the breeding of horses, the training of jockeys, the building of infrastructures," said Harrington.

Initiated in 1996 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, the Dubai World Cup has quickly grown from a local event to an international sporting and social event that brings world-class horse breeders, trainers and jockeys.