Hearing his father-in-law say this, Zhuang Rui didn't say anything. Given the Qin family's status and position in Hong Kong, although they were not quite on par with the top tycoons in Hong Kong and Macau, they were still local bigwigs in Hong Kong and wouldn't suffer any losses.
"But Xiao Rui, is Zhui Feng really confident of winning the first match?"
Qin Haoran was dismayed. Losing 200 million Hong Kong dollars wouldn't cripple him, but he wouldn't be able to explain it to his grandfather. Moreover, he had two younger brothers, which would definitely cause a lot of trouble.
"What's the use of asking Xiao Rui? Since you dared to gamble, you should be prepared to take responsibility." Suddenly, a voice interrupted Zhuang Rui and Qin Haoran's conversation. The two looked up and saw that the old man who had been resting with his eyes closed on the sofa had come up to them.
Qin Haoran was truly terrified by the old man, and even began to stammer, "Dad... Dad, I didn't mean to hide it from you, I... I just thought we should definitely support Xiao Rui's horse..."
Old Master Qin transformed the Qin family from a small gold and silver jewelry workshop into a multinational jewelry company, and his prestige within the family is absolutely unquestionable.
Even though Qin Haoran now has complete control over Qin's Jewelry, he is still trembling with fear in front of the old man. His appearance is exactly the same as when Zhuang Rui did something bad as a child and someone reported him to his home.
"Grandpa, don't worry, Dad won't lose. I'm confident that Zhuifeng will win the second match..."
When Zhuang Rui saw his father-in-law's appearance, he also spoke up and said a few good words for him.
However, Zhuang Rui couldn't be too certain. He couldn't very well say that Chasing Wind's speed wasn't much slower than a cheetah's, could he? If that were the case, the old man would probably immediately write another check to bet on Chasing Wind to win.
"Hmph, do you really think I'm senile and don't know anything?"
Hearing his grandson-in-law plead for leniency, Old Master Qin snorted coldly and continued, "Two hundred million Hong Kong dollars is nothing, but why are you asking Xiao Rui? Can he decide the outcome? He gambled, but he doesn't even have a shred of responsibility. How can he lead Qin's Jewelry? How can he develop and expand the Qin Group?"
Zhuang Rui and Qin Haoran then realized that the old man wasn't blaming Qin Haoran for placing a large bet, but rather for his restlessness and inability to remain calm in the face of important matters.
Qin Haoran had calmed down by now and said respectfully, "Dad, I understand. You were right to scold me..."
"This is the only time, and it won't happen again. Xiao Rui, don't worry too much about winning or losing. Consider this money as Grandpa's support for you..."
Old Master Qin scolded his son with a stern face, but when he looked at Zhuang Rui, his tone softened. With the glory Zhuang Rui brought to the Qin family, let alone 200 million Hong Kong dollars, even 2 billion would be something Old Master Qin would take out without hesitation.
Although Old Master Qin no longer interfered in family affairs, Qin Haoran's actions did not escape his notice. However, since Zhuang Rui wanted to get involved in horse racing, he naturally had to give his full support, so he had always turned a blind eye.
"Hehe, Grandpa, there's no such thing as losing when it comes to gambling. I don't think I've ever lost a bet yet..."
Zhuang Rui laughed upon hearing this, but seeing Qin Xuanbing glaring at him angrily, he quickly changed his tune, saying, "But gambling isn't a good thing. I think... Mom and Dad should try to gamble less in the future..."
Hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Qin Haoran looked depressed. The old man agreed to gamble, which meant he supported Zhuang Rui. So if he gambled, he would be scolded. Now even his son-in-law didn't support him. He was caught in the middle.
"Um... Grandpa, Mom and Dad, I'm going to check on Zhuifeng. The competition is about to start, I'll come back after the third match..."
Zhuang Rui sensed something was off about the atmosphere in the private room. He decided that the best course of action was to leave. After apologizing, he pulled the dumbfounded CEO Chen, who had been listening nearby, out of the room.
Although Mr. Chen is a veteran in the gambling industry, he had never heard of betting HK$200 million on a single off-the-books bet before, and he had just learned a great deal.
It was already past eight o'clock, and the gates of all areas of the racecourse were open. Countless tourists and horse racing fans who had been waiting outside with their tickets rushed in, and a huge noise filled the entire racecourse.
Like in Hong Kong, tickets to watch horse racing live in Macau cost ten patacas each. Of course, these are regular tickets for the stands. As for the good seats and the box seats, those are unaffordable for the average horse racing fan.
When Zhuang Rui arrived at the stables, the first batch of racehorses had already been led out by the jockeys.
To Zhuang Rui's surprise, all the horses had their faces covered with masks and their ears plugged up, so the loud noise outside had no effect on them at all.
Chapter 1221 Extreme Speed Storm
"What are you doing?"
Although Zhuang Rui had watched a horse race before, he had never been backstage before. Seeing that the horses in front of him were all covered with masks, he couldn't help but feel a bit curious.
"Mr. Zhuang, Thoroughbreds are more easily excited after being influenced by their surroundings. This is to lower their excitement threshold. We'll only remove their masks a few minutes before they break through the barrier to stimulate their excitement..."
Mr. Chen is also very knowledgeable about horse racing. Since Macau took over the hosting of Hong Kong's horse racing in 2007, it has been controlled by a few gaming companies. As a veteran in the gaming industry, Mr. Chen is naturally familiar with it.
"Boring..."
Zhuang Rui scoffed at this approach. Although these horses had been proven to be the most valuable and fastest racehorses in the world, in Zhuang Rui's eyes they were nothing but wooden chickens and mud dogs, utterly vulnerable.
Seeing Chen Xiaojun following him the whole time, Zhuang Rui said, "Mr. Chen, you can go ahead and do your work. I don't need anyone here..."
Mr. Chen shook his head and said, "It's alright, Mr. Zhuang. My task today is to receive you..."
Today, Macau is a gathering place for dignitaries and celebrities from all over the world. Not only are several new gaming companies undertaking a large number of reception tasks, but several other established companies have also stepped forward to share some of the reception work.
Even the Macao government has sent special personnel to coordinate various matters, as this Macao International Horse Racing Festival is an excellent opportunity to enhance Macao's city brand.
Because there were so many people who came, and their reputations and wealth were all above Zhuang Rui's, Chen Xiaojun, who had been in contact with Zhuang Rui a couple of days ago, was assigned to be in charge of receiving him.
Seeing that he couldn't get rid of this guy, Zhuang Rui's eyes lit up. He took out two hundred Hong Kong dollars from his pocket and said, "Uh, Mr. Chen, could you help me place a few bets? I'd like to bet on horse number three..."
Zhuang Rui was in a hurry to get President Chen to leave, mainly because he had some things he wanted to tell Zhui Feng and Timur, and it was inappropriate for President Chen to be listening in.
"Okay, Mr. Zhuang, I'll be right back..."
Chen Xiaojun didn't think much of it. After taking Zhuang Rui's money, he glanced at his watch and left. There were still thirty minutes until the first race started, and as long as the bet was placed within two minutes of the start, it would be valid.
"Zhuang Rui'an replied, 'Is there something you want to say to me?'"
Although Timur was honest and kind, he was not stupid. He could tell that Zhuang Rui had deliberately sent the soft-spoken Cantonese man away.
"Yes, Brother Timur, we're running the second race. I want you to control your horse's speed, not too fast, but still to get first place. Are you confident?"
Since Zhui Feng will be playing in the final match, Zhuang Rui wants him to hide some of his "strength." If he can give the impression that he won very reluctantly, that would be ideal.
"This... Zhuang Rui'an replied, 'I can't do that. I... I'm afraid I won't be able to hold Zhui Feng back...'"
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Timur shook his head with a troubled expression. It was already a great favor that Zhuifeng allowed him to ride on its back; Timur never even dared to hope that Zhuifeng would listen to him.
These short-distance speed races are extremely short. The second race is only 1000 meters, and all 1000 meters are straight. There is no need to worry about the jockey controlling the horse's position. There are not many technical aspects. You just need to let go of the speed.
The entire 1,000-meter race would probably take a maximum of 50 seconds to a minute. In that short time, if Timur had controlled the horse's speed from the start, he probably wouldn't have been able to catch up with the other horses later on.
Furthermore, given Chasing Wind's fierce temper, it probably wouldn't allow any other horse to get ahead of it. Therefore, Timur, who had experienced Chasing Wind's speed, understood that taking first place wouldn't be difficult, but completing Zhuang Rui's task would not be so easy.
"Temur Anda, this... I'll explain to Chasing Wind..."
Zhuang Rui scratched his head, walked up to Zhuifeng, hugged its neck, and said, "Zhuifeng, when you start running later, listen to Brother Timur. If he tells you to run fast, then run fast. If he pulls the reins, then run a little faster..."
"Luffy..."
Zhui Feng hissed in dissatisfaction, turned his head away, and ignored Zhuang Rui. This humane scene left Timur, who was standing next to him, dumbfounded.
Zhuang Rui turned Zhui Feng's head with a smile and threatened, "You brat, still throwing a tantrum? Alright, you'll listen to Brother Timur this round, but next round I'll let you run at full speed. If you don't listen, I'll have King Kong give you a little 'warm-up' later..."
"Pfft!" Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Zhui Feng couldn't help but shiver. He tilted his head and licked Zhuang Rui's face with his tongue with a fawning expression.
To be honest, Zhuang Rui's threat was really effective. Among those guys, the one that Zhui Feng hated the most was King Kong. That big guy was always trying to climb onto his back. If it weren't for Zhuang Rui keeping an eye on him, King Kong would probably have succeeded long ago.
"This...this will work?"
Timur was dumbfounded. Although he knew that Chasing Wind was very spiritual, he did not expect it to be this advanced. If it could also speak, it would be no different from a human.
"Hehe, Brother Timur, alright, once the race starts, you take the lead. When you're close to the finish line, control your horse's speed a little. If you can't control it, you still have to take first place..."
Zhuang Rui gave Timur a few more instructions. You see, Qin Haoran had placed a heavy bet on the second match. If Zhui Feng really lost, Zhuang Rui wouldn't be able to explain it to his father-in-law.
Just as Zhuang Rui finished giving his instructions, General Manager Chen returned with a few sheets of paper and lottery tickets, saying with a smile, "Mr. Zhuang, you've bought them. I've also bought a few tickets with you, hoping to share in your luck..."
"Alright, Mr. Chen, don't blame me if you lose..."
Zhuang Rui shook his head helplessly. This was another one who was superstitious about him. It seemed that letting Timur take the lead as the horse master today was the right thing to do.
Seeing Mr. Chen's excited expression, probably infected by the atmosphere at the horse farm outside, and recalling how well he had been treated these past two days, Zhuang Rui smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, if you're interested, why don't you buy some Chasing Wind Wins? It's much more reliable than my previous bet..."
"Oh? Then I'll definitely buy a few tickets later..."
Mr. Chen glanced at Zhui Feng, who wasn't wearing a horse shield or earplugs, and nodded thoughtfully. He knew the odds for Zhui Feng, and maybe he could bring him a pleasant surprise.
"Let's go, the first match is about to start, let's go check it out..."
By this time, most of the spectators had already entered the arena, and the loud noise could be faintly heard at the stables. The first batch of horses participating in the competition had already arrived at the gate under the guidance of their jockeys and trainers.
The starting line for horse racing consists of a series of separate small spaces, with each horse occupying its own space. The partitions in front of these spaces are electronically controlled, and they automatically open to make way for the horses the moment the starting gun fires.
At this moment, in the racecourse, officials from the Macao government were introducing the guests attending the horse racing event. Of course, the main focus was on promoting several newly established betting companies, as they were the ones providing all the expenses for this horse race.
At the starting line, all the participating horses and jockeys were undergoing the final weighing process.
Just as boxers need to be of similar weight to compete in the same event, horse racing also requires that the riders be of similar weight; otherwise, wouldn't the lightest riders have a huge advantage?
The main purpose of weighing the rider is to check if the rider and saddle weigh less than 50 kilograms combined. If they do, the rider must carry lead weights equivalent to the missing weight during the competition.
Of course, Zhuang Rui's horse racing was definitely at a disadvantage in this regard. Timur's weight alone, even without the saddle, was twice 50 kilograms, which was the main reason why Guo Daheng and others did not think Timur was a good jockey.
Like human competitive sports, horse racing also has strict regulations, especially short-distance speed races. Not only must the horses be weighed before the starting gate opens, but they must also be weighed again after crossing the finish line before the results can be announced.
Moreover, in some international competitions, horses also have to undergo urine tests. Speed horse racing mainly tests the horse's speed and endurance, with the horse accounting for more than 70% of the results. In order to achieve good results, it is common for horses to be injected or fed performance-enhancing drugs.
In Hong Kong and other countries where horse racing is popular, there are specialized testing agencies, and the investment in these agencies can be as high as 50 to 60 million RMB. There are no such agencies in mainland China. For example, during last year's Olympics, the urine tests for the top three finishers in the equestrian competitions were conducted in Hong Kong.
The weighing process took about 20 minutes. After all the horses and jockeys had completed the check, they entered their respective starting points according to their numbers.
At this point, the horse's blindfold and earplugs had been removed, and the owner and trainer were all gathered around the horse, each using their own unique methods to increase the horse's excitement at the last moment, hoping to unleash its full power in the race.
When the final minute of the countdown began, the jockey mounted his horse, trying his best to conserve the horse's energy so that every bit of strength could be used in the rest of the race.
"Ten, nine, eight... three, two, one, bang..."
As the countdown reached one, a crisp starting gun fired across the racetrack, and the barriers in front of the horses opened simultaneously, sending more than a dozen racehorses charging forward like the wind.
The sound of the starting gun not only marked the start of the horse race but also ignited the passion of the entire racetrack, with cheers like a tsunami creating a huge wave of sound above the track.
Chapter 1222 Extreme Speed Storm
Blindfolded from early morning until just minutes before the race, these already temperamental horses were bursting with pent-up energy. Once released from the gate, they unleashed their fastest speed, shooting off the starting line like arrows.
Although there were only a dozen or so horses, they galloped out together with considerable momentum, creating a gust of wind on the track. The "clatter" of hooves, amplified by the ground loudspeakers, resonated like a heavy drumbeat in the ears of the audience.
As the horses accelerated, tens of thousands of spectators in the arena went wild, shouting and cheering for their favorite horses. The deafening noise created an invisible wave that lingered in the air above the arena for a long time.
Before humans invented cars and airplanes, horses were humankind's best friend. In the era of cold weapons warfare, they held an indisputably important position, and a well-trained cavalry was often a crucial factor in defeating the enemy.
Even in the age of guns and cannons, cavalry played a very important role in both World War I and World War II. However, in peacetime, horse racing eventually replaced warhorses, turning the original battlefield killing into a competition on the racetrack.
Compared to modern motorsports, horse racing can better ignite people's primal instincts. Their ancestors may have once ridden on horseback to conquer the world, and that primal speed created a storm on the track.
An 800-meter sprint race is completed in the blink of an eye.
The moment the horses crossed the finish line, it was as if an invisible hand was directing them from above the racecourse. The tremendous noise suddenly stopped, and everyone fell silent and held their breath. The contrast between the frenzied shouts and the deathly silence was striking.
The allure of horse racing lies precisely in this: it swings from one extreme to another, providing unparalleled sensory stimulation and making people deeply fall in love with the sport. ...