SINGAPORE, June 5 — The Singapore Turf Club will close its facility in Kranji by March 2027 and the site will be redeveloped by the Government to “better meet” future land use needs including for public housing, leisure and recreation.
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Ministry of National Development (MND) announced this in a joint statement today.
About 350 employees are expected to be affected by the closure.
The final race meeting will be held on October 5 next year for the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup.
The ministries said that the Government continually reviews its land use plans to meet today’s needs while ensuring there is sufficient land for future generations.
Horse-racing spectatorship here has also declined over the years, they added.
The Singapore Racecourse site, spanning about 120 hectares, will be redeveloped to allow the land to be “holistically master-planned” to better meet future land use needs.
This is in addition to other major plans for Singapore’s northern region, including the redevelopment of Woodlands Checkpoint, enhancing Woodlands Town under the Remaking Our Heartland programme, and master-planning Lim Chu Kang into a high-tech agri-food cluster.
The site will be used for public housing, while other potential uses are also being studied, such as for leisure and recreation.
“MND will take into consideration the needs and requirements of various equestrian entities that intend to continue operating in Singapore, including compatibility with other land uses being considered for the area,” the ministry said.
It will also provide timely update on the land use plans after the necessary assessments and studies have been completed.
The land will be returned to the government in 2027 to allow for land preparation and redevelopment.
Singapore Turf Club’s chairman Niam Chiang Meng said that the team is saddened by the decision to close the club, but understands the land needs of Singapore such as for housing, leisure and recreation.
“We will do our best to ensure business is as usual for the club until the 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,” Niam added.
Leading up to the closure, MoF and MND will work with Tote Board and the club, together with other stakeholders and agencies, to ensure their respective needs are addressed during the transition period.
Singapore Turf Club’s employees will be supported in phases through the winding-down exercise, with the first phase of retrenchment starting around 16 months from today’s announcement.
Employees will receive retrenchment packages aligned with the Ministry of Manpower’s regulatory requirements and guidelines, taking into consideration factors such as length of service.
They will also be provided with other means of support including counselling, help with job placement, personal career guidance and skills training courses to enable them to gain new employment, the ministries said.
Singapore Turf Club’s president and chief executive officer Irene MK Lim said: “During this time, affected employees and those working within the horse-racing community will have ample time to consider their career options and manage their personal commitments.”
Racehorse trainers and owners will also receive support for horse maintenance and exportation.
For other tenant stakeholders, such as Singapore Turf Club tenants and livery horse owners, the club will continue its existing contractual obligations.
Lim 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, benefitting all our stakeholders including employees, jockeys, racehorse owners, trainers and the equestrian community and horses that have graced our grounds.” — TODAY
