February 11, 2008 -- The first trials for horse racing beting will soon be held in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province. Central authorities authorized the gambling to start in September, after the Beijing Olympics, but the race track it self won't be open until 2009.

The Wuhan Peace Countryside Horse Race Club has long been interested in any activities related to horse industry, especially in the issue of gambling.

"Some citizens may complain that the horse race gambling is just like casinos," Jianglin Ouyang, manager of the Wuhan Peace Countryside Horse Race Club, told Emerging China."But this is not true. Because as a sport item, horse industry will be good for entertainment, agriculture, and employment."

Ouyang said that the trial phase will help China make some practical decisions about how the betting will be conducted, since the industry is expected to develop differently than, say, it has in Hong Kong.

On of the companies involved in the project is the Orient Lucky Horse Group Corp.

"We aim to improve the horse industry in mainland China, by supplying the Infrastructure for horse race," said a manager from the company who declined to reveal his name because of the political sensitivity surrounding the issue.

Horse racing itself is not illegal in China, and there are already facilities in place. However, up to now, spectators have not been legally allowed to gamble on the events.

Wuhan has a long history of holding horse races, said the Orient Lucky Horse manager.