When Chinese barrel racing enthusiasts looked for a world-class organization to join they searched in many ways.

Through word of mouth, magazines and Internet, they found the National Barrel Horse Association.

"They realized they needed some direction," NBHA executive director Sherry Fulmer said. "Here's an organization that started on Broad Street in Augusta and now we're worldwide."

The NBHA and China came to an agreement earlier this week. The barrel racing organization now has affiliates in nine countries on five continents.

Fulmer said she was approached four to five months ago by Thomas Yu, a businessman with interests in China and the United States.

The sport of barrel racing began in China five years ago and there's a strong interest in it, Fulmer said.

"They're hungry," she said, "for Western sports over there."

Fulmer said the addition of China to the NBHA is helpful because of the audience it will penetrate.

Because the television stations in China are government-controlled, the NBHA will be able to reach millions of people with one show, more people than it's reached in the past 15 years.

"Just the numbers alone will be astronomical," Fulmer said. "I think it'll expand barrel racing in general. It's about the sport. It's about the horses. It's about the children.

"It touches every button we're trying to push."

China, which now will be able to use the NBHA logo and brand, joins the list of international affiliates, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Panama and Mexico. Fulmer said she envisions holding an international circuit of events in places like Brazil, Italy, China and Augusta.

"Our goal is to further the sport," Fulmer said, "and create commerce in the industry."

The NBHA World Championships in Augusta begin Oct. 27, one month after China will hold its first NBHA race.

Fulmer said there will be no Chinese participation in this year's World Championships, but she said she expects a contingent for the 2009 show.