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New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
A final gallop at Penang Turf Club [WATCH]
GEORGE TOWN: As the sun dips below the horizon today, the thunder of hooves will echo across the Penang Turf Club (PTC) for the final time. The last race meeting will not just mark the end of a sporting calendar, but also the closing chapter of one of Penang's most cherished legacies. Founded in 1864, the PTC is Malaysia's oldest turf club. For more than 160 years, it has been more than a racecourse — it was a social anchor, a green sanctuary in a city increasingly consumed by steel and concrete, and a place where friendships, memories and legends were made. Once nestled in the heart of the community, its story began in Macalister Road before relocating to its current grounds near Bukit Gantung in 1939. Its storied turf has hosted everything from the illustrious Penang Sprint Trophy and the Governor's Gold Cup to lively weekends filled with punters and families. But following a unanimous vote by its members at an extraordinary general meeting last month, the club will now begin a formal dissolution process expected to take up to two years. "We used to see horses being led all the way to Gurney Drive for a bath," recalled Lim, a 75-year-old retired member who spent decades within the club's embrace. "Weekends were mad with people. Police had to manage the traffic. You could feel the energy in the air," he said. Today, only eight horses remain in the stables, cared for by two trainers. The once-bustling paddocks are now quiet. The grandstand seats are mostly empty. Yet for people like Lim, every corner of the club still whispers echoes of a bygone era. "It was never just about racing. It was where people gathered, where children ran across the lawns, where you caught up with the same faces every week," he said. The closure reflects broader regional trends. Turf clubs across Asia face similar fates — Singapore's 180-year-old club shut down last October and Macau's Jockey Club bowed out even earlier. The reasons are familiar — dwindling attendance, rising operational costs and the lingering financial aftershocks of the Covid-19 pandemic. Still, the grief in Penang runs deeper. For many, the PTC was one of the city's cultural lungs — a unique institution where high society rubbed shoulders with everyday enthusiasts, united by a shared love for the sport and the stories behind each race. A 62-year-old business owner, a regular visitor to the PTC who preferred not to be named, summed up the loss: "It's not about the money we won or lost. It was about being part of something. The thrill, the community, the ritual. Now it's just… gone." With racing set to cease, the fate of the sprawling grounds remains uncertain. Some fear the land will give way to luxury condominiums or shopping malls. Others hope for something more lasting. "I hope they turn it into a park. A real park, with trees and trails and maybe a small museum. Don't let them erase all this," said Lim. The idea of transforming the site into a Central Park-style public space has gained quiet traction, particularly among heritage advocates. They see it as a way to honour the club's legacy while offering future generations a place to breathe, reflect and remember. For now, all eyes turn to May 31 — a date that will be etched in the hearts of many. The final race will not simply mark the end of a season. It will be the last gallop of a grand dame of Penang, bowing out not with fanfare, but with quiet dignity. And though the gates may soon close and the turf lie still, the stories born on these grounds — of laughter, loss, luck and love — will live on, just as they always have.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior has screw inserted into injured leg
The world's highest-earning racehorse, Romantic Warrior, had a screw inserted into his injured left front leg on Wednesday, with the Jockey Club confirming the surgery was a success. Found to have a left fore fetlock injury in the lead-up to an intended welcome home ceremony last Sunday, the 10-time Group One winner is now back in his box at trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing's stables. 'Management options were discussed by the club's expert veterinarians and Romantic Warrior's owner [Peter Lau Pak-fai] and trainer, and a decision was made for the horse to undergo a veterinary procedure at the club's equine hospital in which a single screw was inserted under standing sedation and local anaesthesia. The procedure was performed without complication,' the Jockey Club said in a statement. Officials were forced to cancel last Sunday's ceremony for the globetrotting superstar after a screening found 'a very early detection of some potential changes in one of the horse's joints' following his demanding three-race campaign in the Middle East. '[Wednesday's] procedure followed a computerised tomography examination and a magnetic resonance imaging examination of his forelimbs performed on May 16 as part of a proactive health-screening process in accordance with the club's systematic procedures for ensuring the welfare of our racehorses. No lameness or other clinical signs were present prior to the screening examinations,' said the club statement. 'Romantic Warrior returned to his stable where he will be closely monitored by club veterinarians and stable personnel, supported by the world-class rehabilitation services that the club has developed.' No timeline has been provided on Romantic Warrior's return to the racetrack.
New Paper
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Rouget taking aim at seventh Jockey Club
PARIS After first forfeit, French trainer Jean-Claude Rouget could saddle two runners in the €1.5 million (S$2.2 million) Group 1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (2,100m) at Chantilly on June 1. He is simply the most successful active trainer in the great French spring championship for three-year-old colts and fillies. Having won the Prix du Jockey Club, also referred to as the French Derby, six times, he may now better his own record thanks to a two-pronged attack. The first time came in 2009 with the remarkable Le Havre, who coincidentally, will be represented in 2025 by his son Leffard, trained by Rouget as well and raced by the same co-owner, Gerard Augustin-Normand. It would not be unprecedented if the son were to follow in his father's footsteps. Of late, last year's Jockey Club winner Look De Vega - trained by Carlos and Yann Lerner, respectively father and brother of ex-Kranji jockey Marc Lerner - emulated the deed of his sire, 2010 winner Lope De Vega, himself a son of Shamardal, winner in 2005. In 2011, Reliable Man stepped into the shoes of his sire Dalakhani, who in 2003 had himself replicated the feat of his sire Darshaan (1984). Such generational success at the highest level perfectly illustrates the primary aim of horse racing: To select the best individuals to improve and perpetuate the thoroughbred breed. Based in Pau in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Rouget rose to prominence in French racing from the late 2000s, becoming the first regionally-based trainer (at the time with two establishments, one in Deauville and one in Pau) to win the greatest French races. He boasts the four classics - the Prix du Jockey Club, Prix de Diane, Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches - on his resume, as well as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe earned in 2020 with Sottsass and in 2023 with Ace Impact, both of whom had previously won the Jockey Club. However, Rouget has battled illness in recent months and has refocused his operations in Pau, his historical base, with success. Rouget said he was happy with his two likely bidders Tipinso and Leffard to extend his record to seven. "Leffard and Tipinso worked together this morning (May 26)," he said. "Their gallop gave me complete satisfaction and, if nothing goes wrong between now and then, both horses will be at the start of the Prix du Jockey Club on Sunday." Tipinso, who is part-owned by Augustin-Normand, was a late scratching from the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1,600m) at ParisLongchamp on May 11. The son of Pinatubo previously chased home Instant Fragile in a Listed mile race at Toulouse on April 20. As for Leffard, he discovered Chantilly in the Listed Prix de Suresnes (2,000m), on May 2, beaten a short head by the winner Ntoi. "That day, we simply wanted to see whether he was suited to the track and whether he was able to compete with that level of opposition, and he answered both questions with a yes," said Rouget. "Moreover, we especially didn't want him to have a tough race. That's why his jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem didn't ask him for more than a solid effort. "He might have been able to win, but that wasn't the goal." With Leffard, Rouget was also driven by the many omens around his rich record in the iconic 189-year-old race. "On the evening of the Suresnes, I felt reassured on the points I've just mentioned, and I was also happy, because Leffard's story is a bit special," said Rouget. "When I bought him, I immediately thought of a partnership between Gerard Augustin-Normand and Antonio Caro, for whom I won the Prix du Jockey Club in 2016 with Almanzor." Rouget's other two Prix du Jockey Club winners are Brametot in 2017 and Vadeni in 2022. "Furthermore, he is a son of Le Havre, who also won the Jockey Club in 2009 for Gerard Augustin-Normand - and Leffard looks just like his father," he added. "Everything is going well so far. Hope it continues on Sunday." FRANCE GALOP
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong students must embrace creativity to complete globally
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@ or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Hong Kong's education system stands at a critical crossroads. While our students consistently achieve impressive academic outcomes, our exam-focused framework is insufficient for preparing them to navigate a rapidly evolving world. Technological disruption , global uncertainties and complex societal shifts demand far more from students than rote memorisation and standardised responses – they require creative thinking. Creativity in education is often misunderstood as merely artistic talent or extracurricular enrichment. Fundamentally, creative learning involves cultivating essential skills: critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability. This point was brought home at last week's Knowledge Exchange Festival in Hong Kong, organised by the non-profit organisation Aftec with funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. There, Professor Anne Bamford, who's known for her research in creativity and lifelong learning, emphasised the urgent need for creative education. She said, 'To cope with all these challenges – globalisation, rapid technological changes, AI – you need an immense amount of creativity.' Hong Kong's schools, however, typically discourage creative expression through an emphasis on standardised testing and rigid curriculums. This approach promotes conformity. The consequences are evident: while Hong Kong students excel at examinations, their below-average ranking in creative thinking in a recent global assessment suggests they may struggle to cope with real-world challenges – a significant disadvantage in today's innovation-driven landscape. By contrast, Singapore scored first in the global assessment. At last week's event, May Tan, a director at Singapore's National Arts Council, explained how Singapore intentionally integrates creativity into education from early childhood, noting that sustained creative education significantly improves students' adaptability and lifelong engagement.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Chaos at Sha Tin as ‘technical issues' frustrate punters and lead to HK$350 million hit to turnover
Jockeys mill around during delays to the start of race 10 at Sha Tin on Sunday. Photos: Kenneth Chan Technical issues with commingling pools wreaked havoc with Sunday's Sha Tin meeting, forcing lengthy delays to the final two races and playing a big role in an estimated HK$350 million hit to turnover. Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said intermittent problems with a database used to take overseas bets was the cause of the delays, prompting all commingling bets to be refunded and odds for race nine to be recalculated. The issue arose five minutes before the start of race nine and multiple delays to the following race, which was eventually run 37 minutes late, left punters frustrated. Engelbrecht-Bresges said 'probably around two-thirds of our commingling partners were effected', with correct weight for race nine not declared until over an hour after the race. The Jockey Club announces one of multiple delays to race 10 at Sha Tin on Sunday. 'When we looked at the issue, we decided we will not approve any commingling bets in the pool of race nine because we were not 100 per cent sure if all the bets were in the system or not,' he said. 'It's very clear there was a connectivity issue and it was intermittent and then we cannot take the risk. So that's when we decided to zero-out – pay all the overseas bets refunded and keep only the local bets and calculate the local odds, to make sure there is no issue. 'Turnover's down a little bit – probably around HK$350 million loss of overseas turnover. This was race nine, 10 and 11, so that had a significant impact on the turnover. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 'The issue is you not only pay back the turnover, it has an impact on the local turnover, too, because the pool size isn't there and people don't bet as much. 'Our team have great confidence this will be resolved for Wednesday.' Hermod continues to pack heat Packing Hermod will hit the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) in top form after charging to a second consecutive victory at Sha Tin on Sunday. Sent off the $1.55 favourite for the Class Two River Verdon Handicap (1,400m), Packing Hermod sat outside leader Dancing Code in the run and proved far too strong in the home straight, prevailing over that galloper by three-quarters of a length. It was Packing Hermod's sixth win at start 10 and it formed the first leg of a double for both trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai and jockey Zac Purton. Lui struck again in the very next race, snaring the Class Four Russian Emperor Handicap (1,400m) with Do Your Part. Voyage bosses it like his brother Voyage Boss completed a rare family double when he took the brave route to win the Class Four Makarpura Star Handicap (1,200m) on debut at Sha Tin on Sunday. To Infinity flashed home to win a 1,650m Class Four at Happy Valley on Wednesday for Jamie Richards and just three days later, his full brother Voyage Boss lived up to his name at Sha Tin. Trained by Frankie Lor Fu-chuen, the galloper – by Darci Brahma out of Italic – travelled well in the box seat after jumping smartly from the inside stall. And when Copartner Fleet left the rail open just after the turn, Derek Leung Ka-chun needed no second invitation and slid through, with Voyage Boss claiming the lead and winning comfortably despite running around late. Voyage Boss strikes on debut! Frankie Lor and Derek Leung combine with the Darci Brahma 3YO at Sha Tin... 🤝#TripleCrown | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 25, 2025 It was a smart performance and a change of surface by his trainer seemed to worked the oracle. 'I trialled him five times already, but four times were on the dirt and he hated the kickback. That's why I went to Happy Valley last time and he trialled well, so we took him to Sha Tin,' said Lor. 'He's very straightforward, later on I think he can go a bit further. The jockey said he's still very green and was really looking around. When you get a good draw, it's usually much easier for a young horse. 'We'll stay at Sha Tin for now – if he goes up about six or seven [points] in the ratings he can still race in Class Four.' Things got even better for connections later on Sunday, with Voyage Bubble carrying the same colours to victory in the Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m). Rank outsider lights up Sha Tin Cody Mo Wai-kit was delivered a welcome surprise when Light Years Glory defied his $45.25 quote to score a thrilling victory on debut in the Pakistan Star Plate (1,200m) for Griffins. Sent out at big odds after showing indifferent form at the trials, the Advertise three-year-old rattled home from back in the field under Matthew Chadwick to make a perfect start to his career. Now that's some debut, Light Years Glory! Cody Mo's Irish-bred 3YO roars home late with @mattLchadwixk in the opener at Sha Tin for Griffins... 🚀#TripleCrown | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 25, 2025 Chadwick saved ground along the inside rail early in the straight before spearing Light Years Glory through a tight gap inside the final 100m, with the newcomer gunning down $1.9 favourite Quick Money by a neck. 'He drew [barrier] one and there was a slow pace. The horse is still green, so it was a surprise,' Mo said. 'In his second last trial in Conghua, we put the cheek pieces on and he had a strong finish. He has shown a good kick and he has ability, but I was surprised he could win at his first start.'
