For the first time, China will offer horse racing as a major after two colleges - Wuhan Commercial Service College and Tianjin University of Sport - agreed on Wednesday to jointly open a horse racing postgraduate program, the Wuhan-based Changjiang Daily reported.

The two-year training program plans to recruit 20 to 30 students, and will start in September next year, according to Zhang Yong, vice president at Tianjin University of Sport.

Graduates of the program will be able to go to the management level of the country's equestrian clubs and horse racing associations.

The horse racing industry is developing rapidly in China, with more than 300 registered equestrian clubs and horse racing fields, said Xia Yunjian, president of Wuhan Commercial Service College.

Some top managers at equestrian clubs can earn up to millions of yuan a year, Xia added.