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Singapore will host its final horse-racing event in October 2024 after redevelopment plans were announced for the Singapore Racecourse.
The 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup next year will mark the last event at the track, which is owned by the Singapore Turf Club. The 120 hectares of land in Kranji on which the racecourse sits will be handed back to the Singapore Government in 2027 for redevelopment.
In a statement, the Singapore Turf Club, which was founded in 1842, said that the racecourse site represents a “valuable resource” for the Government in land-scarce Singapore. The Club noted that, while it has seen “significant success” through its effort to raise the profile of horse racing in Singapore, in-person attendance at the Singapore Racecourse has declined over the past decade.
The Club will now work with the Government to ensure a well-managed exit for local horse racing and make the necessary preparations for the estate to be handed over to the Government in 2027.
Over the next three years, the Club will engage with stakeholders and address their respective needs, with a phased approach based on business needs to be deployed to ensure the continuation of successful operations and a smooth handover.
Singapore Turf Club chairman 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.”
He added: “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.”
Irene MK Lim, president and chief executive of the Club, said: “Singapore Turf Club is extremely proud to have been the home of horse racing for nearly two centuries. 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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