Ascot to become Chinatown for Lunar New Year

Despite bidding farewell to the Year of the Horse, Perth Racing is ringing in the Lunar New Year with a dedicated Chinese Lunar Race Day, designed to encourage closer business and tourism links with China.

Ascot Racecourse will be transformed into a mini Chinatown this Saturday, with traditional lion dances, opera Chinese cuisine, pop-up marquees and even a fortune cookie promotion among the attractions.

Perth Racing general manager of commercial and marketing Darwyn Jolly said the event was a collaborative effort between the Australian Chinese Times, The Association of Great China and the Australia China Business Council.

Mr Jolly said he looked forward to bringing together the racing community and Chinese business groups for the celebration.

“We’re the first thoroughbred racecourse in Australia to actually stage something like this,” he said.

“It’s an all-day event which is going to appeal to both social and business community groups, as well as the members of our founding partners.”

Australian Chinese Times managing director Edward Zhang said the event added flavour to the Chinese New Year calendar of events.

Mr Jolly said he was expecting anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 people to descend on Ascot on Saturday for the event.

If successful, he hopes to collaborate with Tourism WA to showcase the annual celebration in coming years.