Hey China, heard the one about Paddy?

Imagine you're making thingamajigs in your garage, flogging a few here and there, eking out a living when suddenly you discover millions of new customers who desperately want your widget.

That's how thoroughbred horse breeders sitting on their farms feel after this week's news that China has given the green light to horse racing, after decades of prohibition.

The Chinese inclination to gamble is legendary, so racing will surely catch on. But they're going to need geegees, and plenty of them if the scale of all things Chinese is anything to go by.

It's long been said that the world will not be able to meet the demand for racehorses when they start running in China. But some established thoroughbred territories might have to wait a while before they cash in.

They've been beaten to it by the Paddies. That's right, the Irish have claimed the inside starting gate.

People have been trying to kick-start racing in China for years, but officialdom has simply squashed all licence bids.

Racing thrives and has been tolerated in the colonial-era enclaves of Hong Kong and Macau, but mainland China and its 1.3 billion people have been denied the pleasure.

This had to do with the socialist tendency to boss people's lives, of course.

But now the government itself is going to the races.

With the economy overheating, job creation is critical and the Chinese have cottoned on to the fact that horse racing is a big employer. And then there is the social distraction/entertainment value of the game. The bread and circuses principle, if you will.

There are plans for a $2-billion Equine Culture Centre at Tianjin, China's fourth-largest city. The vast site will have two full racecourses, five training tracks, 4000 stables, a vet clinic, an equestrian college and an auction house.

Racing commences in Tianjin next year, with 40 race days scheduled.

In a deal between the Chinese and Irish governments, the whole shebang will be coordinated by Coolmore Stud of Tipperary, Ireland, which is owned by John Magnier - businessman, politician, some-time owner of Manchester United and a most influential man in racing.

The Chinese went with the best to lay the foundations.

Coolmore will ship in 100 broodmares and some stallions to get things going, while Chinese students will go to Tipperary to learn horsemanship.

For eurozone-battered Ireland the three-year project will realise à50-million in horse exports alone.

Racing people in the US, Australia, Britain, France, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil and South Africa will look on enviously as the Micks make hay.

However, other countries seem sure to get a look-in soon enough, such is the expected rapid growth. For South Africa, the Brics link might help.

Indeed, there may even be a smidgen of added buying impetus at next week's National Yearling Sale in Germiston.

South African horses do well internationally and there is no better value-for-money bloodstock anywhere.

TURFFONTEIN, TOMORROW: PA - 1,11 x 1,2 x 2,14 x 6 x 3,4,5 x 6,9 x 2 (R48)