A race gets under way at the Singapore Turf Club on Saturday (Oct 5, 2024). - ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): With the shutters to come down on the Singapore Turf Club (STC), thousands of racegoers turned out at the Kranji facility for one last hurrah on Oct 5.
Home of Singapore horse racing since 1842, the STC marked the end of its 182-year chapter in local history with a grand farewell featuring 10 races – culminating in the US$1.38 million Grand Singapore Gold Cup.
The 124ha land will be returned to the Government by March 2027 and is set to make way for housing and other developments.
Organisers had previously said that about 10,000 guests, racegoers and members of the public were expected for the event on Oct 5.
All the free admission tickets to Grandstand Level 1 at the Turf Club were snapped up online, and a limited number of free Grandstand Level 1 tickets were available for on-site redemption on Sept 21 and 28 and Oct 5.
At 9.30am, 30 minutes before the doors opened, a queue of about 100 people had gathered to try to secure tickets and entry into the venue.
Among them were office worker Michelle Tan and her mother, one of the first few people in the queue.
The 26-year-old has been riding horses – her steeds are mainly former race horses – for the past three years and wanted to witness the final races here.
She said: “It has over 180 years of horse racing culture in Singapore; it’s a shame that it’s just ending like that.
“I love horses myself. I do ride also, so I just wanted to be part of this iconic moment, to see it for the last time and be able to tell the future generations that this kind of culture used to exist because the younger generation will be deprived of this opportunity.”
People of all ages filled the Kranji facility on its final day to explore the premises and capture memories as they snapped photos around the venue.
For some, like boilerman Tan Hock Leng, 58, being at the STC brought back fond memories.
A love for horses was what got him started on watching racing more than 20 years ago, but it had been two decades since he last visited the venue.
He said: “There’s no choice. We have to find other forms of entertainment. It’s refreshing to be back, it hasn’t changed much – there are all the same displays, decor (as 20 years ago), so it’s very sad that it’s closing now.”
When the racing got under way, spectators armed with umbrellas and caps to shield themselves from the sun lined the fence along the periphery of the track to catch the action up close.
Indonesian businessman Allen Santoso, who does not usually attend horse races, flew in from Surabaya for four days just to catch the last race at the STC.
Unable to secure tickets online, the 42-year-old joined the queue just after 9am in a bid to gain entry.
He said: “It’s a historic event, maybe I’ll make some bets. It’s been part of the culture in Singapore and it’s the last day so I wanted to be part of a little history of this place.”
STC’s closure will bring the curtains down on Singapore’s horse racing scene.
Horse racing was introduced to Singapore more than 180 years ago by Scottish merchant William Henry Macleod Read, who founded the Singapore Sporting Club which was later renamed to STC in 1924.
To accommodate the growing interest in racing, the STC sold its Serangoon Road racecourse and built a new facility in Bukit Timah in 1933, before it finally moved to Kranji in 1999.
Over the years, it has hosted dignitaries including the late Queen Elizabeth II, as well as events such as the Youth Olympic Games.
Commemorating the club’s history, each race will focus on a particular period of the club, honouring its heritage across different eras.
Races are named after notable figures in the Republic’s horse racing scene like Abdul Mawi and Magdalene Tan, the first winner of the Singapore Gold Cup and first local female jockey respectively.
STC, which will close in 2027, has left an indelible mark on some of its employees, including head of track R. Jayaraju, who has been with the club for 25 years.
Like many of his colleagues, Jayaraju had mixed feelings on Oct 5. He said: “We feel very proud of STC and being part of the organising committee to showcase our final chapter in horse racing.
“We’ll definitely miss Singapore racing, especially since I’ve been involved in it for the past 25 years.” - The Straits Times/ANN
