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The Star
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Last call at the PTC track to mark the end of a 161-year legacy
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Turf Club (PTC), Malaysia's oldest horse racing institution, has hosted its final race, marking the end of a 161-year legacy. A large crowd of spectators and punters turned up yesterday at the grandstand located in the 81.75ha site in Batu Gantong. Among them was Penangite Ooi Chee Chong, 43, who stepped into the PTC grounds for the first time on what would be its last official race day. 'I've heard stories from my friends and older colleagues about the races here. They used to come here in the 1960s and '70s, dressed in their Sunday best. It wasn't just about the betting for them; it was a big social outing and people came to see and be seen. 'I never had much interest in horse racing until recently. To be honest, I always thought of the turf club as something from the past, something for older people. 'But when I heard it was closing, I felt a strange sense of urgency as I didn't want to let it disappear without seeing it for myself,' he said. Ooi, who works as a factory purchaser, described the atmosphere as unexpectedly moving. 'Even though it's my first time here, you can feel the emotion in the air. You look around and see old timers saying their goodbyes silently and taking selfies at the grandstand. It hits you because this place means a lot to a lot of people. 'It's a bittersweet moment. There's excitement, but also a sense of loss. It's like closing a chapter of our local heritage. 'Once this land is redeveloped, the entire experience will vanish – the turf, the track, the energy, the stories,' he said. A punter, who wanted to be known only as Cheah, 67, said even if horse racing is revived elsewhere in Penang, it would not be the same. 'This place, with its colonial-era clubhouse and old trees, has a certain soul. You can't recreate that in a new venue. 'I'm glad I came here as it feels like I've touched a part of Penang's past, just before it disappears forever,' he added. Seven races were staged as part of the farewell, including the RM250,000 PTC Farewell Trophy (1,300m race), the RM150,000 PTC Memorial Trophy (1,100m race), and the RM100,000 Jockey Club of Turkey Trophy for the 1,400m race. As the sun sets on PTC, the echoes of cheering crowds and thundering hooves will give way to new developments. PTC president Datuk Ong Eng Khuan said, 'It is with a heavy heart that we had to resort to this measure of ceasing racing operations as we have been incurring losses for many years. 'The club has been struggling with fallen attendance, a drastic drop in racing revenue, lack of participation and interest in horse ownership over the years. 'Horse racing, unfortunately, is no longer attracting the big crowds like it did in the 1950s,' he said in a statement. Ong added that although PTC will cease its racing operations, the entity of Penang Turf Club will remain until its full closure. In June last year, PTC members voted overwhelmingly to dissolve the club and sell its prime land. On April 20 this year, the PTC voted unanimously to close following a Special General Meeting. It confirmed the resolutions passed at the First Special General Meeting on June 10, 2024, to dissolve. The land, adjacent to the upscale Taman Jesselton, is estimated to be worth between RM2bil and RM3bil upon conversion to commercial status. However, the transition from recreational to mixed development use is projected to cost about RM1bil. An initial open tender for the entire property concluded without any qualified bids. The club plans to subdivide the land into smaller parcels to attract a broader range of potential buyers. Civil society groups have raised concerns about the proposed rezoning of the PTC land from a green recreational space to a commercial and mixed development area. They said it could lead to irreversible negative impacts on Penang's environment and infrastructure. Established in 1864, the PTC began its journey on a modest parcel of land, granted free, along Macalister Road (now St George's Girls' School), for the purpose of horse racing. It relocated to its present site in 1939. Die-hard racing fans can look to the Perak Turf Club, established in 1886, and the Selangor Turf Club, founded a decade later in 1896, both of which continue to host regular meets for now.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Retired racing journo saddened by PTC's end
KUALA LUMPUR: Retired horse- racing journalist Ram Derayan sighs when the topic of Penang Turf Club (PTC), which is set to close down after 160 years, comes up. "I always knew it could happen," said Ram, who wrote under the byline Go Ram. "Of course, it is very sad. I spent a lot of time there," said Ram, who is born and raised in Penang. The former New Straits Times and The Star correspondent spent countless hours at PTC in his 45 years covering the racing beat. "PTC is a great club that had many champion trainers there in the past. "There were easily more than 20 of them (trainers) and most of them were foreigners. "The highlight each year was the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Gold Cup. "The Gold Cup was the first Malaysian event to feature prize money of over RM1 million." s Ram said PTC, which hosted its final race yesterday, was a staple of the Malaysian Racing Association circuit alongside the Perak Turf Club, Selangor Turf Club and the Singapore Turf Club. "The horses would travel between Penang, Ipoh, Selangor, as well as Kranji in Singapore for races. "I would go with them to write about the races." Still, he said he was not surprised that PTC had reached its final lap, owing to the decline in the sport's popularity. In recent years, a number of turf clubs in Asia has either closed down or ceased to host races. The Singapore Turf Club held its final race on Oct 5, 2024. Ram, however, believes it is possible for horse racing to bounce back with the right support. "Clubs have to do their part and bring in or develop new trainers and promote the sport more."
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'No development applications received for PTC land'
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has not received any application for development on the Penang Turf Club (PTC) land following the 160-year-old club's dissolution. State Local Government Committee chairman Jason H'ng said the new Penang Local Plan will determine the zoning for the prime land near Bukit Gantung. "It is unclear whether the area will be designated for recreational use, open space, or other purposes," H'ng told the New Straits Times. He added that the matter was being studied. He said the state would seek public comments and opinions on the plan. H'ng added that former PTC members and nearby residents can share their views during the public consultation process. He said that in any case, the state would require multiple assessments before any development plan can be considered. "We will consider the opinion of the community before any project is approved." PTC, a historic part of the state's landscape, will be dissolved, with the last race on its grounds set for yesterday. Its dissolution has raised public interest and speculation about the future use of its 80.9ha grounds.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Emotional victory for Penang-born jockey as PTC rides into the sunset
GEORGE TOWN: As horse racing at the Penang Turf Club (PTC) in Batu Gantung draws to a close, the club commissioned a specially named farewell trophy to mark its swan song. The 1,300m Race 6 featured 14 horses competing for the RM250,000 Penang Turf Club Farewell Trophy. It was won by Super Salute, trained by V. Sivan and jockeyed by C.K. Khaw. Khaw, 31, a Penang native, said the win was all the more meaningful to him, as this was the last race at PTC. "I am speechless. I wasn't leading from the beginning but at the 350m mark, I saw a gap and seized the opportunity to move in and overtake. "I pushed through all the way to the finish line." Khaw began his career as a jockey after finishing high school at 19, and has been riding professionally for 12 years. "This is not the hardest race I've won but it was the most significant -- winning on Penang soil, on the final day of the PTC." Khaw, based in Kuala Lumpur, said he intends to ride professionally for as long as he can. "Although PTC has ceased operations, I'll keep competing at the Perak and Selangor Turf Clubs and aim to grow my name in the industry." Meanwhile, Sivan told the "New Straits Times" that he was happy with the win but sad that today was the last race at PTC. "What's more, Super Salute set a track record with an impressive time. "We'll continue racing in Kuala Lumpur, but for now, Super Salute deserves a good rest." The final race started at 4.25pm and ended at 4.27pm, which marked the official closing of the track. The Special Rapid Stakes A 1,300m was won by horse No 5 Lucky Magic, trained by H.Y. Cheng and jockeyed by R. Shafiq. With the conclusion of the seven races, Penang bids farewell to a cherished institution.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Winning horse kicks, injures handler after last race at Penang Turf Club
GEORGE TOWN: The final race at the Penang Turf Club (PTC) in Batu Gantung here witnessed an incident which saw a horse handler slightly injured. The incident happened after Race 4 — the Special Class 4 - 1,400m. As the winning horse — Contarelli — was being paraded, many people tried to touch the horse. Apparently unsettled by this, the horse kicked out, hitting its handler and sending him to the ground. Medical workers immediately rushed to his aid before he was subsequently wheeled off the field. The horse was then taken off the field. Established in 1864, the PTC officially concluded its operations following a unanimous vote to dissolve what was long considered one of the state's most cherished institutions. To commemorate today's final race day, seven special races were held. Among the highlights were the RM250,000 PTC Farewell Trophy (1,300m), the RM150,000 PTC Memorial Trophy (1,100m), and the RM100,000 Jockey Club of Turkey Trophy (1,400m).
