Singapore Turf Club Closure: STC to close by March 2027

The Singapore Turf Club (STC) will close its facility in Kranji by March 2027, the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of National Development announced on Monday (June 5). The last race meeting will be held on October 5, 2024.

The decision to close the STC comes amid declining spectatorship for horse racing in Singapore over the years. In 2022, the average attendance at race meetings was just 10,000, down from over 40,000 in the 1990s.

The government said that the land occupied by the STC (spanning some 120 hectares) will be redeveloped to better meet future land use needs. The plans for the site are still being finalized, but it is expected to include a mix of public housing, commercial and industrial uses.

The closure of the STC will affect about 350 employees. The government said that it will work with the STC to assist affected employees, including help with finding new jobs.

The STC was founded in 1842 and is the oldest horse racing club in Singapore. It has been a popular venue for horse racing enthusiasts for over 180 years. However, the sport has declined in popularity in recent years, due to factors such as the rise of other forms of gambling, the high cost of horse racing, and the perception that horse racing is cruel to animals.

The closure of the STC will mark the end of an era for horse racing in Singapore. However, the government said that it is committed to supporting the horse racing industry in other ways, such as through the continued operation of the Singapore Turf Club Training Centre in Sengkang.

The closure of the STC is also a reminder of the limited land resources in Singapore. The government said that it is constantly reviewing its land use plans to ensure that land is used efficiently and to meet the needs of future generations.