SINGAPORE. Horse racing in Singapore, a tradition that spanned more than 180 years, has come to a historic close. On Saturday, October 5, 2024, a crowd of over 10,000 gathered at the Singapore Turf Club to witness the final race, marking the end of an era for the city-state’s only racecourse.
The Singapore Turf Club, located in Kranji, will return its 120-hectare site to the government by 2027 for redevelopment as Singapore seeks to meet growing housing, leisure, and recreational needs.
Spectators at the final race included a mix of die-hard racing enthusiasts and nostalgic visitors. Among them was 75-year-old retiree Lawrence Phua, who recalled his youth selling horse racing guidebooks at the club’s former location in Bukit Timah. “I know nothing about gambling, but I am a bit emotional and quite sad that horse racing is no more after more than a hundred years,” Phua shared, visiting the Kranji location for the first time.
The Kranji Turf Club, opened in 1999 after a S$500 million (US$383 million) investment, had hosted horse races for the past 25 years. Its history, however, stretches back to Singapore’s colonial past. The first horse race was held in 1843 to celebrate the 24th anniversary of Singapore’s establishment under British colonial rule. The Turf Club also had the honor of hosting Queen Elizabeth II in 1972, attracting 26,000 spectators.
Over the years, the sport’s popularity has declined. While race days averaged an attendance of 11,000 in 2010, numbers had dropped to just 2,600 after the COVID-19 pandemic. The five-story grandstand, built to hold 30,000 spectators, saw dwindling crowds despite horse racing being one of Singapore’s oldest sports.
In comparison, neighboring Hong Kong continues to enjoy a vibrant horse racing scene. On the first day of the 2024 racing season, more than 40,000 punters wagered HK$1.31 billion (US$168 million), highlighting the stark contrast between the two regions.
As Singapore bids farewell to horse racing, the land once dedicated to the sport will soon make way for new developments, reflecting the city-state’s evolving priorities and space constraints.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
