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Malay Mail
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
As global horse racing declines, Selangor Turf Club fights to stay in the saddle
KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — Once the crown jewel of the sporting world, horse racing now stands as a shadow of its former glory. Globally, storied turf clubs are shutting down, plagued by illegal betting, dwindling spectators, and generational shifts in interest. Singapore's Turf Club, one of Asia's oldest, is set to close in 2027, with its last race held in October 2023. Macau's operations ceased in April, while Thailand's Royal Turf Club in Bangkok was demolished in 2018. Closer to home, Malaysia's Penang Turf Club recently announced its inability to sustain itself. Yet, in Selangor, a vestige of this old world endures. Nestled off the highway in Sungai Besi, the Selangor Turf Club (STC), founded in 1896, stands tall as Malaysia's last premier racecourse. A recent weekend visit revealed haunting silence. Barely 200 to 300 punters trickled in throughout the afternoon. Once-bustling VIP enclosures, previously frequented by the country's elite, sat almost empty. Betting counters stood idle, televisions flickered quietly, and muted conversations filled the air. Still, STC breathes history. Selangor Turf Club before a race begins. — Pictures by Yusof Mat Isa A place of prestige From royalty to rockstars, the Selangor Turf Club has hosted international and Malaysian high society. The club's prestige was cemented when Queen Elizabeth II visited in the 1980s, a nod to horse racing's aristocratic roots. In 2001, football legend Sir Alex Ferguson also made headlines with his visit. More recently, in 2024, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters became the latest dignitary to walk through its gates, underscoring the club's diplomatic and cultural significance. STC is more than just a sporting venue. Through its flagship charity race, the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor, the club's 'A Heart for Charity' initiative has channeled funds into numerous community programmes. These range from disaster relief in Japan and Indonesia to supporting Malaysian NGOs. Additionally, STC operates Malaysia's most accessible public equestrian facility, runs the National Equine Hospital, and houses the country's only Apprentice Jockey School, nurturing young talent often from rural east coast towns where riding ponies is second nature. A sport losing its spark As regional turf clubs fall like dominoes, STC is positioning itself as Southeast Asia's central pillar for horse racing. 'The closure of several regional racecourses has brought STC into the limelight, positioning it as the premier racecourse in Southeast Asia and the fourth in Asia. This has opened up a significant opportunity for growth,' said STC chairman Tan Sri Richard Cham Hak Lim. The grandstand, once filled with thousands of spectators on weekends, now sits largely empty. — Picture by R. Loheswar Horse owners and trainers displaced from Singapore and Macau are now stabling their horses in Selangor and Perak. Currently, STC hosts over 800 horses, with more expected as the club cements its reputation as a safe haven in the shrinking industry. In 2025, STC plans to host 55 races, including the Selangor Mile in July, featuring a RM1 million prize — Malaysia's richest race for four-year-olds. Monthly feature races now offer prize money exceeding RM100,000, with a total purse of RM31 million allocated for 2025. 'This substantial increase not only provides greater incentives for participation but also demonstrates confidence in the future of the sport,' Cham added. A dedicated viewing platform allows punters to get up close with the horses as they are paraded before the race. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Modernising for the future To rejuvenate the sport, STC has forged alliances with leading bloodstock agencies, including Magic Millions and New Zealand Bloodstock. In 2024, local owners and trainers imported a record 41 horses from New Zealand, valued at nearly NZD$2.2 million (RM5.58 million). STC is also introducing a Community Horse Project, importing up to 100 yearlings annually for training and racing under a separate programme with bonus incentives for three- and four-year-olds. On the tech front, the club has adopted the Quantum™ tote engine, enabling international commingling and larger global betting pools. Plans are underway to convert Track 2 into a Polytrack for year-round racing, and STC is exploring solar energy adoption to enhance sustainability. The Kuala Lumpur skyline provides a stunning backdrop to the Selangor Turf Club racetrack. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa A fragile but fighting legacy Despite its ambitious vision, STC faces steep challenges, including illegal betting, regulatory inertia, and shifting audience habits. 'Attendance has dropped significantly, and revenue has plummeted, putting immense strain on operations,' said Perak Turf Club chairman Datuk John Lim, as reported by Malay Mail. A victorious jockey celebrates with his team at the Selangor Turf Club. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa In response, STC is upgrading its facilities and hosting lifestyle-themed events like Ladies' Day and Merdeka Day celebrations to attract a younger audience. A collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Jockey Club aims to transform public enclosures into modern lounge spaces. 'We want to offer a more elevated experience and move beyond the image of racing as just gambling,' said Cham. 'It's about creating an atmosphere that's luxurious, vibrant, and inclusive.' Recommended reading: Perak Turf Club's bold RM6m makeover aims to revive its glory days for a new generation From racehorses to retail: Perak Turf Club's stables get second life as Asia's first 'stable market'
Free Malaysia Today
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Service to king and country until your last breath
General (Rtd) Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali, flanked by Rafoc president Lt-Gen (Rtd) Abdul Aziz Ibrahim (right) and other officers, cutting his 90th birthday cake during a reunion at the Sungai Besi camp's Army Officers' Mess. (Adrian David pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Irrespective of one's status, it is your duty to serve the king and your country until your last breath – more so if you are a soldier. Former defence forces chief Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali made the clarion call to all citizens to demonstrate their patriotism and duly serve the government of the day. This, he said, would help continue to uphold Malaysia as a great nation. 'We, as a multiracial community, have all come a long way through trials and tribulations. 'Our struggles helped us achieve independence, followed by threats from the two Emergency periods, the Confrontation with Indonesia, the May 13 racial riots, as well as the insurgencies with the Communist Party of Malaya and the North Kalimantan Communist Party in Sarawak. 'We should not let past trivial matters cloud us and disrupt our unity and progress. Accept reality and let us move on positively,' said Hashim at the Retired Armed Forces Officers Corps Association (Rafoc) Aidilfitri reunion at the Sungai Besi camp's Army Officers' Mess recently. Former army deputy chief Abdul Aziz Hassan (right) joining other officers to wish Mohamed Hashim on his 90th birthday. (Adrian David pic) Rafoc president Abdul Aziz Ibrahim and its members simultaneously hosted Hashim, who turned 90 on April 10, to a belated birthday bash with a cake. 'Do not hate people, be revengeful, arrogant or be jealous of other people's success. Our path has been determined by the Almighty and we should be thankful and blessed with whatever we have,' he said. Hashim is the second-most senior surviving armed forces service chief after the country's first local Royal Malaysian Air Force chief air-vice marshal Sulaiman Sujak, who turned 91 on March 25. K Thanabalasingam, who served as the first local Royal Malaysian Navy chief, is the third oldest, having turned 89 on March 12. Hashim comes from an illustrious family, four of whom were bestowed the title Tun – the third highest after the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa supreme gallantry award and the Darjah Kerabat Diraja Malaysia – by the king. Mohamed Hashim receiving his Darjah Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM) which carries the title Tun, from former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in 2022. (Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali pic) His late older brother Ismail Mohd Ali was a Bank Negara governor (1962-80), while older sister Siti Hasmah, 98, and her husband former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, 99, were all bestowed the same title. Hashim is the second officer after the late Ibrahim Ismail – the country's fifth defence forces chief – to be made a Tun in 2000. 'I look forward to many more years of cordial liaison with my fellow officers and men, many of whom are ageing yet have not lost their spirit of camaraderie,' said Hashim, who was raised on Jalan Peel in Kuala Lumpur and went to Victoria Institution. Hashim attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 1955 to 1957 before being commissioned as a second-lieutenant into the Royal Malay Regiment. He rose through the ranks to become brigadier-general at Rajang Area Security Command in Sibu, Sarawak, and was appointed as the ninth defence forces chief from Oct 6,1987 to April 9, 1997 before his retirement. Mohamed Hashim (left) and Communist Party of Malaya secretary-general Chin Peng (second right) at the signing of the Peace Accord in Hat Yai, Thailand on Dec 2, 1989. (Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali / Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia pic) In service, Hashim saw active duty in operations against the communist terrorists during the first (1948-60) and second (1968-89) Emergencies, the Confrontation with Indonesia (Jan 20, 1963-Aug 11, 1966) and during the May 13, 1969 racial riots. Hashim was one of the representatives of the government to sign the Peace Accord in Hat Yai, Thailand with the laying of arms by the Communist Party of Malaya on Dec 2, 1989. After retirement, he was appointed as director to a number of government-linked and private companies, including the Armed Forces Superannuation Fund and Perwira Niaga Malaysia. He was also appointed as Sukom '98 chairman, responsible for running the XVI Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur that year.
