10/06/2023

Singapore Turf Club since 1842

Singapore Turf Club

Singapore Turf Club, renowned for its horse racing events, is the oldest existing club in Singapore. It was founded by Scottish merchant William Henry Macleod Read and began as the Singapore Sporting Club (SSC) on 4 October 1842.

The SSC was renamed the Singapore Turf Club (STC) in 1924, but it was de-registered at a later date. The new STC was eventually formed in 1994 when Bukit Turf Club changed its name to Singapore Turf Club. Today, the STC’s horse racing events take place at Kranji Racecourse. These happen on selected Fridays, Sundays and public holidays of each month. Guests must be 18 years old and above to enter the racecourse on race days. The SSC built a grandstand and track on swampy land near the junction of Bukit Timah and Serangoon Road, in what is today Farrer Park. After the colonial authorities gave their approval, this piece of land was levelled, drained and cleared of trees and tall bush within four months.

The first race the SSC held at the racecourse took place on 23 February 1843. This race marked the 24th anniversary of the founding of Singapore by Stamford Raffles. The track measured 83 yd (75.9 m) and 300 residents comprising mainly of British, and several Germans, Portuguese, Jews and Americans arrived in their horse-drawn carriages for this momentous event. Read took home the prize money of $150 after he won the first Derby, which was called Singapore Cup. During the first two decades of the club’s opening, horse racing was largely favoured by amateurs who were expatriates or members of the Malayan royalty. Owners trained and rode their own ponies.  Burmese and Chinese ponies were used before Australian griffins were brought in for the first time in the 1880s. The sale of Australian horses took place in Commercial Square (today’s Raffles Place) until 1886, when the venue was changed to Abrams Horse Repository in Coleman Street.


Singapore Turf Club (1842 - 1988)

The Singapore Turf Club was founded in 1842 as the Singapore Sporting Club to operate the Serangoon Road Race Course at Farrer Park Field. It was the only horse-racing club in Singapore and is part of the Malayan Racing Association. The first race was held on 23 February 1843 with a prize money of $150. The club closed in 1988 after the Singapore Totaliser Board (Tote Board) formed the Bukit Turf Club (BTC) to take over all racing activities.

The Singapore Sporting Club was founded on 4 October 1842 by Scottish merchant William Henry Macleod Read to operate the Serangoon Road Race Course at Farrer Park Field. The club held its first race, the inaugural Singapore Cup race, in February 1843 to marking the 24th anniversary of founding of modern Singapore by Stamford Raffles. It also accepted bets on horse racing and ran 4-Digits (4D) draws. In 1924, the club changed its name to the Singapore Turf Club and held the inaugural Singapore Gold Cup race. To expand the racecourse and racing activities, the club sold Serangoon Road Racecourse to the Singapore Improvement Trust for $1.5 million and bought 98 ha (980,000 square metres) of the Bukit Timah Rubber Estate at a cost of $850,000 to build the Bukit Timah Race Course.

The Club moved to Bukit Timah on 15 April 1993 and was opened by the Governor of Singapore, Cecil Clementi. During the Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II, racing was stopped and banned by the Japanese. After the war, the club reopened on 15 November 1947. Sunday racing was included from 1959 onwards. In 1960, the club opened to the public and they were allowed to attend the races. In 1981, the North Grandstand was built to accommodate the public. In 1987, the Ministry of Finance announced the formation of the Tote Board to control the income earned from the Club via horse racing betting and 4D draws. In 1988, the Tote Board was formed and wanted the club to run horse racing and 4D operations on its behalf but was rejected by the club. In response, the Tote Board formed the Bukit Turf Club (BTC) as an agent to operate both activities. The Club appealed to the Tote Board to absorb the BTC's constitution and rules but retaining its original name and members. It was rejected by the Tote Board. The club's staff was re-employed by BTC and its assets, including its reserves, were taken over by the Tote Board. The Singapore Turf Club was deregistered. The Club relocated to its present location at the Singapore Racecourse at Kranji in 1999. The racecourse is adjacent to Kranji MRT station. Singapore Turf Club is the only horse racing club and authorized operator for horse racing activities in Singapore. It also operates the Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre (STCRC), a 3-hectare site with riding arenas adjacent to the Singapore Racecourse at Kranji. Racing is staged all year round mostly on weekends, with most race meetings restricted to locally trained horses.


Singapore horse racing for more than 180 years
Singapore Turf Club's Kranji racecourse

The sport was introduced to Singapore in 1842, when Scottish merchant William Henry Macleod Read and several other enthusiasts founded the Singapore Sporting Club. They transformed a patch of semi-swampland in Farrer Park in central Singapore into a racecourse. In 1924, the site was renamed as the Singapore Turf Club.

Horse racing proved to be popular not only with Europeans, with meetings also attracting wealthy Malay and Chinese racegoers. In 1933, as horse racing's popularity increased on the island, the course was moved to a larger location at Bukit Timah in western Singapore. In March 2000, the Singapore Turf Club moved to its current location at Kranji, in the north of the island. The S$500m ($370.9m; £298m) racecourse has a five-storey grandstand, with capacity for 30,000 spectators.

However, the Singapore Turf Club has seen attendance decline over the past decade. The country's government said the land would be redeveloped for public and private housing to meet "future land use needs". "Singapore is a city-state with limited land. The government continually reviews its land use plans to meet today's needs while ensuring there is sufficient land for future generations," it added. The Ministry of National Development also said it would explore other uses for the land, including leisure and recreation facilities.

No more horse racing: S'pore Turf Club to hold last race in Oct 2024

The Singapore Turf Club (STC) in Kranji will close by March 2027. The last race meeting will be in Oct. 2024.

STC chairman Niam Chiang Meng, Singapore Tote Board chief executive Fong Yong Kiang, Urban Redevelopment Authority senior director Tan See Nin, and Second Minister for Finance and National Development Indranee Rajah announced STC's closure in a joint press conference on Jun. 5, 2023. STC will hold its last race meeting on Oct. 5, 2024, featuring the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup.

The 120 hectares of land will be handed back to the government for redevelopment by March 2027, the STC press release said. STC is Singapore's only horse racing club. It is founded in 1842.



Racing will continue with the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup as the last race in October 2024

The Government today announced that about 120 hectares of land in Kranji on which the Singapore Racecourse sits, will be handed back to the Singapore Government in 2027 for redevelopment. Singapore Turf Club will close its facility by March 2027.

The Singapore Turf Club will hold its final race meeting on 5 October 2024, featuring the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup.

Singapore Turf Club Chairman Mr Niam Chiang Meng said, “We are saddened by the decision of the Government to close the Club. At the same time, we understand the land needs of Singapore, including housing and other potential uses such as leisure and recreation. We will do our best to ensure business as usual for the Club until our final race meeting. 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.”

Horse racing in Singapore to end in October 2024; Turf Club site to be redeveloped
The entrance of the Singapore Turf Club on Jun 5, 2023. (Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)

Horse racing in Singapore will come to an end in October 2024, with the Singapore Turf Club site in Kranji to be handed back to the government in 2027 for redevelopment.

The Singapore Turf Club will hold its last race on Oct 5, 2024, and close its facility by March 2027, the government and Singapore Turf Club announced on Monday (Jun 5).

The 120 hectares of land in Kranji that is home to the Singapore Racecourse will be redeveloped and used for housing, including public housing, the Ministry of National Development (MND) and Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a joint press release. The government is also studying other potential uses, including leisure and recreation.


S’pore Turf Club to close Kranji racecourse by March 2027 to make way for housing, other uses
The closure of the Turf Club means the end of over 180 years of horse racing and betting in Singapore. PHOTO: TOTE BOARD

The land where the Singapore Turf Club (STC) in Kranji sits will be returned to the Government by March 2027, making way for housing and other developments in the area. These include previously announced plans to redevelop the area around Woodlands Checkpoint, enhance Woodlands Town under the Remaking Our Heartland programme, and transform the Lim Chu Kang area into a high-tech agri-food cluster.

The closure also means the end of over 180 years of horse racing in Singapore, which has seen dwindling spectatorship over the years. “This was not an easy decision but necessary... There have been increasing needs and demands for land, and the Government regularly reviews our land use plans, because we want to ensure that resources are optimised to meet Singaporeans’ needs,” said Second Minister for Finance and National Development Indranee Rajah at a press conference held at the Ministry of Communications and Information on Monday. She added: “We plan not just for this generation, but for the next.”

The area, covering around 120ha of land, is the size of about 200 football fields and is larger than the whole of Gardens by the Bay, which spans 101 ha. STC, which employs about 350 people, will run its last race, the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup, on Oct, 5, 2024, before it shuts its facility by March 2027.


Last stretch for Singapore Turf Club after more than 180 years
The original Singapore Sporting Club (predecessor of the Singapore Turf Club) race course in Farrer Park. (Photo: Singapore Turf Club)

The Singapore Turf Club will hold its last race in October next year, marking the end of horse racing in Singapore.

The land the Turf Club occupies in Kranji will be handed back to the government by 2027 for redevelopment.

Here's a look back at more than 180 years of horse racing in Singapore:
  • Oct 4, 1842 - The Singapore Turf Club was founded as the Singapore Sporting Club by Scottish merchant William Henry Macleod Read and a group of horse racing enthusiasts. It was then located at Farrer Park. It was renamed the Singapore Turf Club in 1924.
  • Feb 23 & 25, 1843 - The club’s first race was held to mark the 24th anniversary of Singapore’s founding by Sir Stamford Raffles. The race day was declared a holiday.
  • 1924 - The first Singapore Gold Cup was held, in the same year the club was re-named the Singapore Turf Club. The club's last race, to be held next year, will be the 100th Singapore Gold Cup.
  • 1933 - To cater to growing racing interest, the Club sold its Serangoon Road racecourse to the Singapore Improvement Trust and bought 98 ha of the Bukit Timah Rubber Estate to build the Bukit Timah Racecourse. It was officially opened by Sir Cecil Clementi, then Governor of Singapore on Apr 15, 1933.
  • 1942 to 1945 - Horse racing was suspended during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore. The grandstand and surrounding buildings became hospitals, while the stables and syces’ or grooms' quarters were converted into military car parks. Fruit trees were grown in the fields and the best horses were shipped to Japan. The club reopened in 1947 after the committee spent two years removing damaged military vehicles, and repairing the buildings and tracks.
  • 1950s, 60s - Sunday racing was introduced in 1959, and, in 1960, members of the public could attend the races if they paid the admission fee of S$4. In 1964, Runme Shaw became the first Asian to be elected as chairman of the club.
  • 1972 - Queen Elizabeth visited the Turf Club during her state visit to Singapore. A special race, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup was held in her honour.
  • 1988: The Singapore Turf Club was dissolved in March 1988, and Bukit Turf Club was appointed to take over its racing and 4D draw operations. In 1994, the club changed its name back to Singapore Turf Club.
  • Aug 22, 1995 - Rock star Rod Stewart’s first concert in Singapore was held at the Singapore Turf Club, playing to audience of 8,000.
  • Aug 7, 1999 - The Turf Club moved to the 124 ha Kranji grounds where it's currently located.
  • Jan 7, 2019 - Singapore Pools (Private) Limited took over the management and operations of horse betting from Singapore Turf Club.
  • 2020 - The Turf Club suspended all local race meetings from the “circuit breaker” which started on Apr 7, 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, community recovery facilities for foreign workers recovering from the coronavirus were constructed at the Singapore Racecourse at Kranji. Racing resumed in July, but behind closed doors. The club reopened to the public in April 2022.
  • July 2020 - Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said that the Singapore Tourism Board and Tote Board are exploring concepts for the redevelopment of Singapore Racecourse @ Kranji as a leisure destination. The redevelopment is to complement the nature attractions in the Mandai area such as the Sungei Buloh nature park, Neo Tiew area and the Mandai nature reserve.
  • Jun 5, 2023 - Authorities announced that the Singapore Turf Club facility at Kranji will close and the land be returned to the government by 2027.



Farrer Park Racecourse

Historically, the name refers to the former racecourse (also known as Farrer Park Racecourse), which was built in 1843 as a sports and recreational hub for Europeans. After the racecourse moved to Bukit Timah in 1933, its original site was renamed Farrer Park in 1935 after Roland John Farrer, President of the Municipal Commissioners from 1919 to 1931. Farrer Park became a sporting hub in the 1950s to 1980s.

Farrer Park was formerly a patch of semi-swampy land on the edge of a stream, near the junction of Bukit Timah and Serangoon Road. The land was granted to the Singapore Sporting Club, which was founded on 4 October 1842 by a few amateur racing enthusiasts, including William Macleod Read, Charles Spottiswoode and William Napier, after they had requested from the government for a site to hold regular horse-racing. The land was levelled, drained, and cleared of vegetation within four months, and the racecourse was opened in 1843. The first race was held on 23 and 25 February 1843 and was named the Singapore Cup with a prize money of $150.

The racecourse became the hub of European social life in Singapore. The races, which lasted two to three days, were held twice a year, usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Races in May were known as the Spring Meeting, while those in October the Autumn Meeting. The first 25 years of horse racing were reserved for the Europeans and Malay royalty. Johore’s Sultan Ibrahim made regular appearances at the grandstand, and the Europeans were mostly amateurs who trained and rode their own horses. Racehorses were kept in the stables under the care of Boyanese syces who lived at the adjacent Kampong Kapor. The wealthy Chinese subsequently took interest in racing and organised Chinese-named cups such as the Cheang Hong Lim Cup, Confucius Cup, Kangchu Cup and Kongke Cup.


Farrer Park Racecourse @ Serangoon Road

Serangoon Road Race Course was established in December 1842, making it the first race course in Singapore. Operated by the Singapore Sporting Club and named after the nearby Serangoon Road, horse races were held mostly during the weekends and targeted primarily at the European communities. On non-race days, the race course doubled as a golf course, grazing pasture and rifle range.

On 6 February 1919, a grand fair was held at the Farrer Park Field as part of a series of celebrations for Singapore's centenary. The race course grounds were used as an airstrip. In 1924, Singapore Sporting Club was renamed "Singapore Turf Club". The race course would remain at Farrer Park Field until 1933 when it was superseded by the Bukit Timah Race Course. Farrer Park Field eventually opened for public use, with new developments including playing fields and a building called "Sports House".

Today, Race Course Road and Race Course Lane bear witness to the area's horse racing past. Farrer Park MRT station took its name from this field.


Bukit Timah Turf Club

The Singapore Sporting Club, former body of the current Singapore Turf Club (STC), was formed as early as 1842 by Scottish businessman and the chairman of Singapore Chamber of Commerce William Henry Macleod Read (1819-1907).

Singapore’s first horse racing track and stand was built in present-day Farrer Park, and the first race took place in 1843. Being an amateur sport during that era, the ground were shared for sheep-rearing and golfing on non-racing days. The club purchased part of Bukit Timah Rubber Estate in 1927 and the new racecourse at Bukit Timah, Singapore’s second, was completed six years later. However, the racing activities was soon disrupted by World War II, and it was not until 1960 before races were opened to the public. Horse racing proved to be so popular that two giant grandstands were built to accommodate 50,000 spectators. Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip paid a visit to the Bukit Timah racecourse in 1972, and the Turf Club honoured her visit by establishing a Queen Elizabeth II Cup in that year. Bukit Timah Saddle Club was set up in 1950 at nearby Fairways Drive, allowing retired race horses to be re-trained in other skills such as show jumping or dressage (also known as “horse ballet”).

Today, remnants of the former race course can still be found, such as the former designs of street name signs and speed limit signs. Due to the prime location of Bukit Timah, the authority decided to relocate the racing premises to Kranji. By 2000, the new Kranji course, after four years of work and at a cost of S$5 million, was finally opened to facilitate professional horse racing. Part of the facilities and stables at the Bukit Timah site were demolished after the relocation, as the area was being redeveloped into a food and sale hub known as Turf City. Some of the large fields are also leased out to other sports such as golf, soccer and rugby.


Bukit Timah Race Course

The Bukit Timah Race Course was a venue for Thoroughbred horse racing in the Bukit Timah area of Singapore. Built by the Bukit Timah Turf Club, it was opened on 15 April 1933 by the Sir Cecil Clementi, Governor of Singapore. There was no racing from 1941 through 1946 as a result of World War II.

During its sixty-six years, Bukit Timah Race Course was visited by numerous Singapore and foreign dignitaries including a 1972 visit by racing fan a Thoroughbred owner, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip and Princess Anne. In honor of her visit, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup was established. In 1959 the Singapore Derby was revived at Bukit Timah Race Course and was the feature race on its final day of operation on 25 July 1999. It was closed to make way for Kranji Racecourse.

Turf City was opened in 1999 and had a 10-year lease with heyday until 2010, with the first tenant is Singapore Agro Agricultural (SAA). SLA wanted this tenant to extend which is only allowed until 1 March 2012. By the time, SH Cogent (Cogent Land Capital) took over the Turf City portion and several shops had been closed and demolished. Turf City would be renamed 'The Grandstand', however this would be opened to all in July 2012. As connectivity is poor until 2015, shuttle buses were originally provided from Toa Payoh or Clementi. After that, it was being shortened to Botanic Gardens or Sixth Avenue. Bukit Timah Race Course area will be finally shut down in 2023, to make way for the future development including the MRT station at the former Turf City.


Bukit Timah Turf Club
The 1983 Gold Cup race Image taken from Singapore Press Holdings, 1983

For many of us, the act of prancing around to a chubby Korean guy is probably the closest any of us will get to experience what horse-racing is really like, and while the history of horse-racing stretches back to 1842 when the first racecourse was built on where else but along Race Course Road, many will possibly remember the Bukit Timah Turf Club as the iconic site where horse-racing flourished in Singapore.

It all started in 1927, when the Singapore Turf Club purchased part of the Bukit Timah Rubber Estate and opened it within six years in 1933. Initially restricted solely to members and owners, it stopped operations during the Japanese Occupation and only reopened in 1947 after extensive restoration. Amazingly it was only in 1960 that members of the public were allowed to attend the races, and with that probably came an interesting myriad of characters housed in the grandstands that overlooked the racetrack. On one side you had the mostly-male working class punters hoping to make it big, their hopes resting in betting slips that were often strewn across the floor at the end of the day, while up in the boxes you had the well-dressed individuals just looking to spend another Sunday away, chatting with friends while throwing in a random bet or two without much concern.

In 1981, to meet the increasing demand of crowds, the North Grandstand was opened at a cost of $18 million and allowed a total of 50,000 people to the races. Yet just 12 years later in 1993, it was announced that the prime land that Bukit Timah Turf Club sat on would be released for residential development, with the new 81.2ha site at Kranji opening in March 2000 with the S$3 million SIA International Cup as its opening race.


Kranji Racecourse

The Singapore Racecourse/ Singapore Turf Club is a venue for thoroughbred horse racing, situated in Kranji, next to the Kranji MRT station.

Built and operated by the Singapore Turf Club, it opened on 4 March 2000, replacing the Bukit Timah Race Course.

The Singapore Turf Club has hosted a number of important domestic races as well as two major international events, the Singapore Airlines International Cup and the KrisFlyer International Sprint.

Singapore Turf Club: Blast from the Past

Singapore Turf Club has a rich and illustrious history, witnessing many milestones over the past century. Among our most recent and significant milestones is the opening of the 124- hectare Kranji grounds on 7 August 1999, following a five-year construction project valued at $500 million.

The racetracks were designed with the latest in-turf innovation and technology. The 41 light masts installed around the course enabled us to introduce night racing, making us the first club from the Malayan Racing Association to do so. The five-storey grandstand can hold 30,000 spectators and facilities include public food courts, private boxes with dining and viewing facilities as well as private dining areas. The stables feature swimming pools, exercise tracks, a veterinary hospital and over 1,000 stalls, all for the horses.

Our Milestones:
  • 4 Oct 1842 - The Singapore Turf Club was founded as the Singapore Sporting Club by Scottish merchant William Henry Macleod Read and a group of horse racing enthusiasts. Located at Farrer Park, the Club’s aim then was to encourage the importation and improvement of horses in the colony by offering monetary prizes to horses who win races.
  • 23 & 25 Feb 1843 - The first race was held to mark the 24th anniversary of Singapore’s founding by Sir Stamford Raffles and was watched by over 300 spectators. This inaugural Singapore Cup race featured prize money of $150. The race day was declared a national holiday
  • 1880 - One of the oldest feature races on local turf, the Singapore Derby, was first run in 1880 with a prize money of $150. The 2,400m race featured ponies from China.
  • 7 Jan 1896 - The Straits Racing Association, known today as the Malayan Racing Association (MRA), was formed to coordinate and regulate horse racing in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Ipoh.
  • 16 Mar 1911 - The old Racecourse played a big part in heralding the start of aviation in Singapore. The first flight in Singapore, piloted by Belgian aviator Joseph Christiaens, made aviation history as it took off from the Serangoon Road Racecourse.
  • 1924 - Singapore Sporting Club changed its name to Singapore Turf Club, to better represent the Club’s role.
  • 1933 - To cater to growing racing interest, the Club sold its Serangoon Road Racecourse to the Singapore Improvement Trust for $1.5 million and used $850,000 to purchase 98-hectares of the Bukit Timah Rubber Estate for a new site. More than $3 million would go into building the Bukit Timah Racecourse, later regarded as “the finest in the East”.
  • 15 Apr 1933 - Sir Cecil Clementi, then Governor of Singapore declared the Bukit Timah Racecourse open at a grand ceremony attended by 5,000 members and guests.
  • 20 Feb 1972 - Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Princess Anne visited the Club for The Queen Elizabeth II Cup, during her state visit to the Republic. A 26,000-strong crowd showed up to see the Royal Family. The Cup to commemorate her visit ran over 2,200m and offered $35,000 in prize money.
  • 1981 - Local turf history was made when female jockeys, Irene Pateman and Paula Wagg from Australia became the first two women granted local permits to ride.
  • 1 Jan 1988 - The Government established the Singapore Totalisator Board. The Board appointed the Bukit Turf Club as its agent to take over racing and 4D operations from the Singapore Turf Club.
  • Jan 1989 - Singapore was put on the world racing map when Colonial Chief won the Second Hong Kong Invitation Cup at Sha Tin, an international racing event. Colonial Chief was also the first horse to top more than $1 million in prize money.
  • 7 Oct 1990 - Then President Wee Kim Wee and the First Lady made their first official visit to the Club as Guests-of-Honour for the Singapore Gold Cup race, which coincided with the nation’s 25th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, Singapore Pools donated $500,000 to the 25th Anniversary Charity Fund.
  • 11 Aug 1991 - The Club introduced the $250,000 Raffles Cup, named after Sir Stamford Raffles. Tuneful Melody created turf history as the first local-bred horse to win a major feature race.
  • 1 Jun 1994 - Bukit Turf Club, appointed in 1988 to take over Singapore Turf Club’s racing and 4D operations when it was dissolved, was named Singapore Turf Club once again to give Singapore more prominence on the world racing map, as well as to pave the way for the club’s impending relocation to Kranji.
  • 22 Aug 1995 - Legendary rock singer and songwriter Rod Stewart’s first concert in Singapore was held at the Singapore Turf Club. It was the Club’s first concert held at the racetracks and Rod Stewart played to an 8,000 strong audience.
  • 18 Jul 1999 - Singapore Turf Club held a Heartstrings Charity Cup race which raised $630,000 for the Community Chest. The Club received then Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Mr Yeo Cheow Tong and his wife Mrs Helen Yeo as Guests-of-Honour.
  • 7 Aug 1999 - After five years of construction, the state-of-the-art $500 million 124-hectare Kranji Racecourse was opened. The racetracks were designed with the latest in-turf innovation and technology. The 41 light masts installed around the course enabled the Club to introduce night racing, the first Club from the Malayan Racing Association to do so.
  • 25 Sep 1999 - Highlighting the first of the live races hosted at the Kranji Racecourse was the $350,000 Singapore Cup, held in commemoration of the first race in Singapore in 1843, which took place at the Farrer Park Racecourse.
  • 4 Mar 2000 - Then President S R Nathan officiated the opening of the Kranji Racecourse and a 30,000-strong crowd witnessed the inaugural running of the $3 million Singapore Airlines International Cup. The Cup race was Singapore’s biggest horse racing event and the world’s seventh richest horse race. It drew participation from top horses and jockeys from France, Hong Kong, Italy, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
  • 12 Mar 2001 - The inaugural $1 million Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Sprint race took place at the Singapore Turf Club. Together with the $3 million Singapore Airlines International Cup, they were the crown jewels on the local racing calendar. The biggest racing bash of the year was broadcasted worldwide to an estimated 1.9 billion audience.
  • 11 Jun 2001 - The $3 million Singapore Airlines International Cup was granted Group One status, the highest recognition accorded by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee in London to any thoroughbred race.
  • 9 Nov 2003 - The inaugural Singapore Turf Club Charity Raceday raised $1.15 million for Community Chest. Together with Singapore Pools, the Club also donated another $1 million to 21 other charities. The occasion was marked by the presence of then President S R Nathan.
  • 18 Mar 2006 - Queen Elizabeth II paid a second visit to Singapore Turf Club with Prince Philip 34 years later, gracing the Queen Elizabeth II Cup named after her. To mark the grand occasion, the Club increased the Queen Elizabeth II Cup prize money from $250,000 to $350,000.
  • 1 Apr 2006 - The Club injected $11 million to boost the local racing industry. The Patrons' Bowl and Kranji Mile were upgraded to Group 1 status, bringing the total Group 1 races held at the Club to seven. Three new feature races were added - The Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint, Singapore Four-Year-Old Sprint and Singapore Four-Year-Old Mile.
  • 29 Oct 2006 - The Group 1 Raffles Cup was presented by Panasonic Systems Asia Pacific for the first time.
  • Nov 2009 - The Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre opened with the aim of making horse-riding accessible to the public. It remains the only riding centre with its own equine surgical facility. The riding centre dedicated an annual race day to raise funds for the Riding for the Disabled Association Singapore, focused on facilitating interaction with horses as therapy for children and adults with disabilities.
  • 24 Jun 2010 - The Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre was officially opened by then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Teo Chee Hean.
  • 18 Aug 2010 - The Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre hosted the 2010 Youth Olympic Games’ Equestrian Show Jumping event.
  • 26 Mar 2011 - Singapore was once again put on the world map when best-known local equine celebrity Rocket Man became the first and only local horse to win the International Group 1 race, Dubai Golden Shaheen.
  • 27 Apr 2013 - The Club broke a record for the largest cupcake tower in the Singapore Book of Records. All 2,888 cupcakes were sold for charity and proceeds went to the Club’s adopted charity, THK EIPIC @ Woodlands.
  • 6 Sep 2013 - Brazilian jockey, Joao Moreira made Singapore-Malaysia racing history with eight victories on eight winning racehorses at the Kranji racecourse. This epic performance was recognised by the Singapore Book of Records as the “most consecutive winning rides by a jockey at a single race meeting”.
  • 8 Nov 2014 - The $2 million KF1 Karting Circuit, Singapore’s first international standard permanent karting facility, was officially launched at the Club. It featured a 960m-long dual directional circuit, the only one of its kind in the world, designed by world-renowned Formula One track architect, Herman Tilke. The circuit is equipped to host international karting races.
  • 4 & 5 Aug 2018 - The Club hosted the inaugural GetActive! Singapore event in collaboration with Tote Board and SG Sports. To promote a healthy lifestyle among Singaporeans, various sports try-outs and activities, including Augmented Reality and traditional games were organised for the public. The Club also hosted ActiveSG’s Singapore Cycling Challenge, the first such event on the safety track inside the racetracks.
  • 7 Jan 2019 - Singapore Pools took over all horse betting operations from Singapore Turf Club, while the Club focused on horse racing.
  • Apr 2019 - The first-ever Taiwanese night market opened in Singapore to overwhelming response at The Grounds @ Kranji. Over two exciting weekends (19-21 and 26-28 April), Shilin Ye Shi Singapore presented a feast of Taiwanese street delicacies, entertainment and games galore to a 500,000 strong crowd thronging the Club.
  • 25 & 26 Jul 2019 - The Club organised an inaugural Books & Toys Donation Drive for children and youth, receiving around 2,000 items. Together with the books and toys, the Club donated a sum of $30,000 to beneficiary Beyond Social Services.
  • 3 Aug 2019 - The Club once again hosted the annual GetActive! Singapore. Featuring sports activities and traditional games, the event was graced by Ms Indranee Rajah, then Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for Education. More than 200 beneficiaries from Beyond Social Services, CARE Singapore, Deaf Sports Association, Down Syndrome Association, NTUC Health Active Aging and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities participated. It was also an occasion to celebrate Singapore’s 54th birthday.
  • Nov 2019 - The third and largest edition of Artbox Singapore opened at The Grounds @ Kranji and over two weekends (15-17 and 22-24 November), welcomed over 450,000 visitors. The Club organised a ‘Lucky Hydro Dip Horseshoe’ booth at Artbox Singapore to raise funds for charity. A total of $15,000 raised from the sales of customised souvenir horseshoes was donated to the Singapore Children’s Society.
  • 21 Dec 2019 - More than 60 children with special needs had the rare opportunity to cycle around the service road of Singapore Turf Club's racetracks. Organised with Ageless Bicyclists, the activity enabled the children and their families to experience cycling in a safe and conducive environment.
  • Jan 2020
  • In response to COVID-19, Singapore Turf Club restricted the number of visitors on race days and ensured safe distancing practices were put in place.
  • 27 Mar 2020 - The Singapore Turf Club held its races behind closed doors for the first time due to the escalating COVID-19 situation. Screening of simulcast races were also stopped.
  • 4 Apr 2020 - The Club suspended all races due to COVID-19.
  • 11 May 2020 - The Club announced that part of the Singapore Racecourse and Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre (STCRC) grounds would be temporarily converted into Community Recovery Facilities for foreign workers recovering from COVID-19. The multi-storey carpark, a portion of carpark B and the sheltered arena at STCRC would house some 3,600 recovering foreign workers. This was a show of unity from the Club in the fight against COVID-19.
  • 11 Jul 2020 - The Club received approval from the Government to resume racing behind closed doors. Strict protocols and Safe Management Measures were put in place to ensure closed door races resumed safely and efficiently.
  • 24 Apr 2021
  • The only female apprentice jockey at the Club at present, Jerlyn Seow won her first race just four months after her debut. She rode Axel, her 71st ride to victory in a Class 3 Polytrack race over 1,600m.
  • Jun 2021 - Singapore Turf Club (STC) proudly received the Ministry of Finance Family Award (One Public Service Award category) for its efforts to support the nation’s COVID-19 response. Working closely with Tote Board, the Ministry of National Development and other government agencies, the multi-storey carpark in STC and the riding arena at STC Riding Centre were converted into temporary dormitories for migrant workers.
  • 9 Oct 2021 - The Club hosted its first wedding since closing to the public due to COVID-19. The happy couple celebrated their union surrounded by lush greenery with an exclusive view of the world-class racetracks.
  • 14 Nov 2021 - Daniel Meagher-trained Lim’s Lightning emerged tops as Kranji’s highest-rated galloper after winning the $1 million Singapore Gold Cup, as well as the Lion City Cup and the Raffles Cup in the year.
  • 23 Nov 2021 - In support of CAForGood’s initiative for Singaporeans to donate their unused SingapoRediscovers Vouchers, Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre hosted beneficiaries from North Mosque Cluster and The Boy’s Brigade. Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Manpower was Guest-of-Honour.
  • Dec 2021 - In support of community engagement through art, the Club collaborated with Yew Tee Arts & Culture Club to upcycle and breathe new, artistic life into its used horseshoes. The farriers team cleaned some 200 used horseshoes for a series of thematic art workshops from 10-19 December.
  • 16 Dec 2021 - Singapore Turf Club (STC) launched its new corporate website, integrating the STC and STC Riding Centre websites and providing a gateway to its racing portal. Visitors can enjoy a user friendly, functional and mobile optimised experience.
  • 12 Feb 2022 - The Club held its first community event since closing to the public due to COVID-19. Some 200 participants enjoyed exciting performances by local celebrities at the Limbang Chinese New Year Celebration 2022.


180 years of horse racing ends in Singapore
The 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup will be the last race at Kranji on 5 Oct 2024, before the land is handed back to the government by 2027

The Singapore government is set to turn its back on horse racing, with the Singapore Turf Club (STC) confirming on Monday the land on which Kranji racecourse sits will be redeveloped. The final race meeting will be held on October 5, 2024, before the curtain comes down on the sport’s 180-year history in the Lion City and the land is handed back to the government in 2027.

Niam Chiang Meng, the club’s chairman, said they were “saddened by the decision of the government to close the club”. “At the same time, we understand the land needs of Singapore, including housing and other potential uses such as leisure and recreation. “Singapore Turf Club recognises that the Kranji site is a valuable resource that can help meet the evolving needs and aspirations of Singaporeans, and this transition will serve to optimise land use for the greater good of the local community and future generations. We are aligned with the government on the need to invest in the future of Singapore. “We will do our best to ensure business as usual for the club until our final race meeting. 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.” Planning is in place for the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup to be the last race at Kranji, while it is believed wagering on overseas racing may continue.

There have been a number of factors behind racing’s demise in the city, with the STC confirming “attendance at the racecourse has been declining over the past decade”, while turnover has been shrinking amid competition for dollars since the opening of two casinos in 2010. There have been prize money cuts in recent years, the horse population has been decreasing, and Covid led to fewer meetings, while Kranji’s two international races – the Singapore Airlines International Cup and the KrisFlyer International Sprint – were discontinued in 2015. “Singapore Turf Club is extremely proud to have been the home of horse racing for nearly two centuries,” said STC president and chief executive Irene Lim. “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. “We hope to leave a lasting impression of the club that will be fondly and proudly remembered by Singapore and the world”.


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