A CHINESE SILVER RACE CUP, HUNG CHONG & CO, SHANGHAI, CIRCA 1912 on an inscribed stepped hexagonal base, the openwork stem simulating three entwined bamboo stalks, the hexagonal bowl applied with scenes of birds and differing foliage, simulated bamboo scroll handles 31cm high, 1094gr (35oz) The inscription reads: HANKOW 1912. CHINESE RACE CLUB CUP. WON BY GAYHURST. Hankow, now part of the city of Wuhan, in common with a number of other cities, started a race club for the Chinese (as opposed to the foreign run race clubs of the Treaty Ports) in the years just before the revolution of 1911. 'CHINESE RACE CLUB. In his report on the trade of Hankow, Mr. Sugden, the English Acting Commissioner of Customs, writes:- In the spring the wealthy Chinese, on the initiative of compradores of foreign firms, started the first Chinese race club. Ten thousand taels were subscribed and within two weeks a temporary course was laid out, ponies collected, and a meeting held with great enthusiasm. During the summer - the club - capital, 100,000dol - laid out a property, given by one of its members, on the plain close to the city and concession. It abandoned its autumn meeting after the first day's racing on account of the death of the Emperor. The club is run on the lines of the foreign club, gentlemen jockeys only being allowed. A most striking evidence of the change that is coming over China is afforded by these young men of the rich gentlemen class riding out to train in the early morning, and competing on race days - working hard, sacrificing personal comfort and old ideas for the sake of sport and the honor of a prize - while the older generation, brought up to consider bodily exercise derogatory, watches, applauds, and enjoys itself thoroughly in an unrestrained manner, utterly opposed to the ideas of a decade ago.' (The Evening News, Sydney, NSW, Wednesday, 19 January 1910, p. 6)