Singapore announces end to horse racing after 180 years as last course to shut shop
The 100th and final race for the Grand Singapore Gold Cup will take place on 5 October next year
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Singapore’s nearly two-century tryst with horse racing will end for good next year when the country’s only horse racing club will shut shop.
The Singapore Turf Club (STC) was founded in October 1842.
Its 100th and final race for the Grand Singapore Gold Cup will take place on 5 October 2024, local reports said.
The island nation’s government announced plans that the large, 120-hectare site will be redeveloped for public housing, citing the “limited land” available to meet such needs for the public.
“We are saddened by the decision of the government to close the club,” the STC said in a statement. “At the same time, we understand the land needs of Singapore, including housing and other potential uses such as leisure and recreation,” chairperson Niam Chiang Meng said.
“Singapore is a city-state with limited land,” the ministry of national development and the ministry of finance said in a joint statement. “The government continually reviews its land use plans to meet today’s needs while ensuring there is sufficient land for future generations.”
The STC will return the land to the government in 2027, it was reported.
The STC was founded as the Singapore Sporting Club by Scottish merchant William Henry Macleod Read and a group of horse racing enthusiasts, according to The Strait Times.
It was then located at Farrer Park. The STC moved to its current location at Kranji in the north of the island.
“We will do our best to ensure business as usual for the Club until our final race meeting,” STC chair Mr Meng said.
“Concurrently, we will work with our stakeholders to ensure a smooth exit for local horse racing and make the necessary preparations for the estate to be handed over to the government by March 2027,” he said.
“We are aligned with the government on the need to invest in the future of Singapore.”
STC president and chief executive Irene Lim hopes the club will “leave a lasting impression”.
“We are committed to seeing this phase of the nation’s history come to an end in a dignified manner, befitting all our stakeholders including employees, jockeys, racehorse owners, racehorse trainers, the equestrian community and horses that have graced our grounds,” she was quoted as saying by RaceNet.
“We hope to leave a lasting impression of the Club that will be fondly and proudly remembered by Singapore and the world.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments