Singapore (Common Wealth) _ More than 180 years of horse racing in Singapore are coming to an end, as the city-state’s only racetrack is due to close and be converted for housing. The final event, the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup, will be held in October 2024, according to the Singapore Turf Club (STC).
The Singapore Turf Club began as the Singapore Sporting Club in 1842 to run the Serangoon Road Race Course at Farrer Park Field. It is Singapore’s only horse racing club and a member of the Malayan Racing Association. The first race, with a prize purse of $150, was placed on February 23, 1843.
A Scottish merchant and other horse-racing enthusiasts started the club in 1842. The modern Kranji racecourse debuted in 2000, replacing the previous Bukit Timah track. “We are saddened by the government’s decision to close the club,” STC chairman Niam Chiang Meng said in a news release.
“At the same time, we understand the land needs of Singapore, including housing and other potential uses such as leisure and recreation,” he added. The STC admitted that racetrack attendance had been dropping over the last decade.
According to the organization, racehorse owners and trainers would be offered assistance with horse maintenance and exportation. According to local media, the club has around 700 racehorses. “Singapore is a city-state with limited land,” “The Ministries of National Development and Finance issued a joint statement.” “
The government is constantly reviewing its land use plans to ensure that there is enough land for future generations while meeting today’s needs. “Local horse racing has also seen a decline in spectatorship over the years, he added.
The Singapore Government concluded that redeveloping the Singapore Racecourse site will allow the land held by the racecourse and its surrounds to be master-planned holistically to better satisfy future land use needs.
This is in addition to the other significant initiatives for Singapore’s northern region, which include redeveloping the Woodlands Checkpoint, improving Woodlands Town as part of the Remaking our Heartland program, and master planning Lim Chu Kang to become a high-tech agri-food cluster.
The area is being developed for housing, including public housing. MND is also investigating other potential applications such as leisure and recreation. MND will also assess the demands and requirements of various equestrian companies that plan to continue operating in Singapore, as well as compatibility with other land uses under consideration for the region.
After the essential assessments and studies have been completed, MND will offer a timely update on the land use plans. The site will be surrendered to the government in 2027, allowing for land preparation and redevelopment to begin.
