The Beijing Jockey Club is only a 25 minute drive from the CBD of Beijing, straight down the Jintong Expressway. There are a number of trainers from all over the world and hundreds of well-bred horses from Australia and Europe. The racecourse itself is fantastic, enough to make anyones spine tingle, comparable to any famous track in the world and great to ride on. It consists of two turf tracks, A & B, and a straight of 1200 metres. A horse I won on 6 times - Filante Musique, still holds the record for 1000m in 56:56sec. The first ever race-meeting was held in mid-July 2001 and ended in late November, and then we had a fantastic year of racing through 2002 and 2003 from late March until mid-November. Since these photos were taken they still had not built a grandstand, the owner preferring to wait for gambling to be legalized, so instead they built a number of cosy V.I.P rooms for owners and trainers with T.V screens and maids to serve up the drinks.
This is where it all happens. The first place we head to after
a day's racing is the famous Members Bar, -situated outside the pearly gates of the racing farm. Admission is free and no dress code required. You can say what you like to the waitress because she doesn't speak English. After having a few well deserved Yang-jing beers for as little as 40 cents for a large bottle, its off to the local restaurant for some more bullshitting and karaoke, wooh!
During the scorching summer months,
we usually dined outside on the street outside this restaurant in Xuxinzhuang and then stumbled inside for some karaoke and Gambi's (cheers)-- by the way the food is fantastic.........
and another thing....... if you don't learn to master the chopsticks, you might go hungry. The trainers were able to shout all the staff with plenty of food and beer after the races(on the terms we had so many winners) because it was so cheap. The chinese seem to slurp and munch their food, a lot different
to our western ways, it's quite entertaining after a while, but you had to watch out as they fired sunflower seeds all over the floor, which can get quite slippery.
I was asked a couple of times how I managed being the only female jockey to ride against non-english speaking male jockeys. The answer was obvious for me, 'no problem'. I just love going fast and I realised, in order for me to get around in one peice I had to make a few alterations. I learned Chinese words necessary to communicate on the track and I quickly learned where not to place my horse in the final stages of a race when I was about to make a winning move. Apart from their eratic steering, we all got on very well and I'm sure they were quite amazed and happy to see a blonde girl just as mad as they were.
As you peek into the stable barns, you could very well be anywhere. Specific staff were relegated to their duties, with women mainly given the task of mucking out and mixing the feeds, however, it was wise to do the feeds yourself as they were easily bought by the local trainers. The feed itself was basic and consisted of heavy oats, corn and sunflower seed. There was chaff, but it was too dusty so we chose not to use it, but rather feed extra lucerne hay. Additionally, we fed Kelp which really glossened their coats, and on the above diet along with correct training, the horses looked quite healthy.
We did however have problems to deal with which never went down well with professional horse-people. There were some well-meaning but woefully inexperienced vets and farriers who refused to learn the western way. For me, it was a sweaty moment to send a winning prospect to the farrier before the races or call the vet.
To the local people, particulary the underpriveledged, animals of any description are only thought of as a main meal and as far as pamparing an animal is concerned, it just isn't heard of. Over time, I noticed a significant transformation in their attitude towards the well-being of the horses whereby some of the staff were taking a great interest in and genuinely cared for them. Soon, when racing started, they were hooked and loved racing and had found something that they were passionate about. Horseracing added so much life to their own lives which before had only been a mere existence, a true struggle to survive. The stablehands of BJC were not only happy, but they were lucky, they were educated on the basic care of a horse, some were even learning to speak English, and some of them showed good skills that would warrant a job overseas. Their personal appearance had jumped from wearing old baggy clothes to dress suits on a Saturday and more presentable clothes during the week, and being in the public eye of the more wealthy, they held their heads higher. The change was never going to happen suddenly and it took a long time, but, with this, came a unique individual that had changed for the better and had acquired skills that would never have been within reach had it not been for the trainers of BJC.
Abbeyleix
My Favourite of all Horses. A stunning chestnut with a curly flaxen mane
and tail, she was by Youthful Legs out of Cosmic Lady by Balmerino. A very handy horse who always ran in the money.
We both grew up together but unfortunately, days afer I left Beijing, she died after being taken over by a local trainer. R.I.P.
Youthful Lady
A loveable mare also by Youthful Legs
out of Miss Dial. She won a race for me from last to first within the last 200 metres. 
Compressor
Red Stol
By Thunder Gulch out of Lots of Smiles. The best horse in Beijing, who would no doubt have tested them in metropolitan races in Sydney. We won all the feature races, even carrying weights of 62kg. Other Horses
I had a few more favourite horses, and if I ever find their photographs, I will put them on. Another one was 'Filante Musique' by Filante our of Etoile D'Or who was well up to Metropolitan standard. He was purely a 1000 metre horse and still holds the record over 1000m in 56.56sec.