The Year of the Fire Horse: Luxury, Power, Legacy and the Discipline to Begin Again

There are moments when symbolism and purpose meet with quiet precision. The Chinese New Year luncheon in support of the Racehorse Sanctuary was one of them.

Held to mark the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse, the gathering united philanthropy, heritage and enterprise in a setting defined by red and gold — colours of vitality, courage and fortune. It was an afternoon that understood its theme. The horse is not decoration in Asian tradition. It is discipline. It is loyalty. It is endurance under pressure.

Eton Holdings stood as one of the principal sponsors of the luncheon — a fitting alliance. A company rooted in commercial real estate and retail investment, Eton Holdings has consistently aligned itself with initiatives that strengthen community and cultural exchange. Strength, after all, must be accompanied by stewardship.

The event was co-organised by jewellery designer Pauline Wong and supported by Eton Holdings CMO and Board member Elvijs Plugis. In his opening remarks, Plugis spoke with clarity and restraint. He outlined the company’s commitment to sustainable growth and responsible leadership, reminding guests that business without conscience is merely transaction. Business with purpose becomes legacy.

The symbolic centre of the afternoon, however, remained the horse.

In Chinese tradition, the Fire Horse carries a particular intensity — dynamic, ambitious, independent, yet guided by honour. It moves forward with intent. It does not fracture under pressure. It does not betray trust. It runs because it was made to run.

Rebeca Riofrio — Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Society and Board Advisor for Eton Holdings — delivered a moving address that drew these threads together. Speaking in the third person would not soften the truth: her words carried weight. She spoke of new beginnings not as sentimental notions, but as disciplined decisions. Of opportunities that demand courage. Of leadership grounded in loyalty and integrity.

She reminded the room that the character of the horse — trustworthy, steadfast, intelligent, resilient — mirrors the qualities required in modern leadership. In enterprise. In diplomacy. In community.

She concluded with a traditional blessing: 恭祝火马年大吉，愿新的一年带给您繁荣、成功与无限喜悦。May the Year of the Fire Horse bring prosperity, success and boundless joy. The Racehorse Sanctuary, the beneficiary of the luncheon, stands as a living expression of these values. To care for thoroughbreds after their racing careers is to honour both achievement and responsibility. It is an act of respect for power once unleashed and now protected. Compassion is not weakness. It is civilisation.

Among the distinguished guests were Princess Katarina of Serbia, Dr Olga Roh, Alexandra Shchelkonogova, Audrone Gedrimaite, Abhisheik Singh, alongside a circle of international attendees whose presence reflected the global nature of the celebration.

Yet what endured beyond the speeches and the ceremony was something quieter.

The understanding that renewal is never accidental. That momentum must be earned. That loyalty remains the rarest currency.

The Fire Horse does not hesitate at the gate. It answers the call.

And so, as this new chapter unfolds, the message was simple and clear: lead with integrity, move with courage, and remember that true strength is measured not by speed alone, but by character.

An afternoon of heritage. A statement of responsibility. A year ready to be run with purpose.