Horse racing in Singapore is scheduled to conclude in October 2024, as the Singapore Turf Club site in Kranji will be returned to the government by 2027 for redevelopment.
The Singapore Turf Club and the government jointly announced that the last race at the club will take place on October 5, 2024, with the facility closing down by March 2027.
According to a press release by the Ministry of National Development (MND) and Ministry of Finance (MOF), the 120-hectare land in Kranji, which currently houses the Singapore Racecourse, will undergo redevelopment primarily for housing purposes, including public housing. The government is also considering other potential uses, such as leisure and recreation.
Increased demand for land in Singapore
During a press conference, Second Minister for Finance and for National Development, Indranee Rajah, explained that while the decision was challenging, it was necessary due to the increasing demand for land in Singapore.
Over the past decade, spectatorship at horse racing events has significantly declined. The average attendance per race day dropped from 11,000 in 2010 to approximately 6,000 in 2019. Even after the Singapore Racecourse reopened in 2022 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the average attendance was only around 2,600 spectators per race day, as stated by Indranee. She also noted that this decrease in spectatorship is not unique to Singapore, as other countries have experienced similar declines.
Regarding the impact of the Singapore Turf Club closure on the Singapore Tote Board’s earnings, Fong Yong Kian, the CEO of the Tote Board, stated that they earn approximately S$400,000 per race. He further mentioned that the Tote Board’s total turnover stands at S$1.1 billion per year as of 2023. However, with the decline in horse racing spectatorship, the turnover from races accounts for only about half of the total Tote Board turnover.
Overseas horse racing will still be offered
Fong confirmed that Singapore Pools will continue to offer betting on overseas horse racing despite the closure of the Singapore Turf Club.
Established in 1842, the Singapore Turf Club is Singapore’s sole horse racing club. Its chairman, Niam Chiang Meng, expressed sadness about the government’s decision to close the club. However, he acknowledged Singapore’s land requirements, including housing and potential leisure and recreation facilities. Niam assured that the club would operate as usual until the final race meeting and work with stakeholders to ensure a smooth exit for local horse racing.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Ministry of National Development (MND) emphasized that redeveloping the racecourse site would allow for holistic master planning to meet Singapore’s future land use needs. The plans align with other major developments in the country’s northern region, such as the redevelopment of Woodlands Checkpoint, enhancements in Woodlands, and the creation of a high-tech agri-food cluster in Lim Chu Kang.
Decline in spectators
Indranee highlighted the potential for development in the northern area and the intention to create an integrated and comprehensive plan for its proper development. She explained that the decision to reclaim the land from the Singapore Turf Club was based on Singapore’s land requirements and the decline in the number of spectators.
When asked about the potential number of public housing units that could be developed on the current Singapore Turf Club site, Indranee stated that it was too early to provide an estimate as it would be part of a broader plan for the northern region.
In response to a question about why the Kranji site was chosen over other options like golf courses, Indranee mentioned that the government had already reclaimed several golf courses in recent years. For instance, the Keppel Club site will have 6,000 Housing Board flats, and the former Jurong Country