Every year when the Singapore Turf Club (STC) stages the glittering Singapore Airlines International Cup meeting in May, Malaysian punters feel a terrible letdown: why is there a great gap in the quality of racing between the two countries now?
Given the fact that racing between us and them was on par before, and the same racing association still governs the sport in both nations – the Malayan Racing Association – (which is probably the only link left with Singapore that has still not been severed), why the huge disparity?
This year’s event held at the Kranji racecourse in Singapore was a glittering affair that drew top racehorses, top trainers and top jockeys from across the globe. It was a real feast to behold. The two major races of the day lived up to their billing as “a classic encounter” and left no doubt whatsoever as to the quality and integrity of the races.
In the main event – the 2,000m SAI cup race – the eventual winner, Gitano Hernando, was content to play second fiddle to California Memory till the turn into the final straight. Gitano Hernando quickly romped past California Memory to win the race from the fast finishing River Jetez while Irian and Waikato finished in a dead heat for the third spot.
In the major sprint race – the 1,200m Krisflyer – it was the globetrotting Rocket Man who duly obliged fans for an easy win. In a sure indication that Singapore racing has truly reached international stature, Éclair Fastpass, Perfect Pins and Ghozi made it a 1-2-3-4 finish for the Singapore horses to triumph over sterling quality horses from across the world.
Every year it is this event that leaves local punters with bad feelings and with anger and disgust over the state of the horse racing industry in Malaysia. “If we punt on Singapore or Hong Kong races, there is that feeling that we are getting our money’s worth. But with the local races we often just feel cheated,” complained angry day members at the Selangor Turf Club in Sungai Besi.
In comparison with the STC, the three Malaysian turf clubs in Sungai Besi, Ipoh and Batu Gantong in Penang score low marks in their delivery of the sport to racing fans. A litany of wrong practices that have gone unchecked for a long time is threatening to kill the sport in this country as attendances in the three Malaysian turf clubs continue to decline.
To begin with, the authorities governing racing in this country are seemingly helpless when it comes to solving the bookie menace. Despite the presence of plainclothes policemen on duty, the illegal bookmakers thrive, causing enormous losses to the turf clubs. And betting has also gone on the Internet in a further blow to local clubs.
Unscrupulous jockeys
Punters at the clubs reportedly state that the police are in cahoots with betting syndicates and are paid to turn a blind eye to illegal activities. While illegal betting syndicates not only siphon a large chunk of the betting turnover, they are also supposedly into “fixing” the result of races in collaboration with unscrupulous jockeys.
Horses being doped are also not a new happening in the Malaysian scenario. And even if horses are not on dope, it is the jockeys who might be on dope and even if they themselves are not on dope, they sometimes fail to ride out their mounts with full vigour and enthusiasm.
This has caused even leading jockeys to be hauled up by the racing stewards to be suspended or disqualified for wrongs done. This has led punters to surmise that jockeys, betting syndicates, trainers and owners are not concerned much about ethics and integrity.
This is why punters usually wait for the STC or Hong Kong Jockey Club to stage its races rather than place bets on “doubtful” races organised by the three Malaysian turf clubs. But all the parties in the Malaysian racing industry are to be blamed because there is little regard or interest in genuine racing activity.
Even a visitor to these clubs can witness the huge difference between the manner in which countries with a high standard of racing like Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore conduct their races and the way the Malaysian clubs conduct theirs. The standard of Malaysian horse racing is glaringly and evidently poor.
One surefire shocker for visitors is that the tote can “change” dividends while the race has started or, worse still (and it has happened), when the tote dividends change drastically after a race has ended. This leaves a visitor utterly in shock and disbelief as to why there are still punters who wish to participate in Malaysian horse racing.
The number of punters during the Singapore and Hong Kong races is significantly higher. Unless it’s a big cup race in Malaysia, the number of punters attending Malaysian races has dwindled. Those who still remain are the die-hard faithful.
And should it rain, the three clubs will often call off the races for the day. In Hong Kong and Singapore, their tracks can withstand rain and at the most the races will be delayed unless it’s a torrential downpour. Local clubs have been spending millions of ringgit to upgrade their tracks but are still surprisingly unable to solve this problem.
Stooping to a new low
Besides, the number of registered racehorses and the number of horse owners have also gradually declined over the years primarily because the stake money offered by the local clubs is meager and incentives given are still not attractive enough. Even the prize money for the big cup races have been scaled down.
Compounding the situation are trainers with unsuitable qualifications and experience, improper training given to stable hands and operators, and the poor care of horses. All this has caused the sport of kings to stoop to a new low in this country.
It is imperative, for the well being of the Malaysian horse racing industry, that a major revamp be done of the over 100-year-old sport in Malaysia. There is a need to replace corrupt, inept officials with only dedicated officials committed to promoting the sport.
Horse racing can be an interesting and healthy pastime for those who practise a responsible gaming policy and also an indicator of the progress and prosperity of a nation such as Australia, Japan and Singapore where it has grown world-class in stature – and drawing racing fans from all over the earth.
Christopher Fernandez can hardly be considered a punter. But he has followed horse racing in the region since 1978 and has become totally fascinated with equine races.
Given the fact that racing between us and them was on par before, and the same racing association still governs the sport in both nations – the Malayan Racing Association – (which is probably the only link left with Singapore that has still not been severed), why the huge disparity?
This year’s event held at the Kranji racecourse in Singapore was a glittering affair that drew top racehorses, top trainers and top jockeys from across the globe. It was a real feast to behold. The two major races of the day lived up to their billing as “a classic encounter” and left no doubt whatsoever as to the quality and integrity of the races.
In the main event – the 2,000m SAI cup race – the eventual winner, Gitano Hernando, was content to play second fiddle to California Memory till the turn into the final straight. Gitano Hernando quickly romped past California Memory to win the race from the fast finishing River Jetez while Irian and Waikato finished in a dead heat for the third spot.
In the major sprint race – the 1,200m Krisflyer – it was the globetrotting Rocket Man who duly obliged fans for an easy win. In a sure indication that Singapore racing has truly reached international stature, Éclair Fastpass, Perfect Pins and Ghozi made it a 1-2-3-4 finish for the Singapore horses to triumph over sterling quality horses from across the world.
Every year it is this event that leaves local punters with bad feelings and with anger and disgust over the state of the horse racing industry in Malaysia. “If we punt on Singapore or Hong Kong races, there is that feeling that we are getting our money’s worth. But with the local races we often just feel cheated,” complained angry day members at the Selangor Turf Club in Sungai Besi.
In comparison with the STC, the three Malaysian turf clubs in Sungai Besi, Ipoh and Batu Gantong in Penang score low marks in their delivery of the sport to racing fans. A litany of wrong practices that have gone unchecked for a long time is threatening to kill the sport in this country as attendances in the three Malaysian turf clubs continue to decline.
To begin with, the authorities governing racing in this country are seemingly helpless when it comes to solving the bookie menace. Despite the presence of plainclothes policemen on duty, the illegal bookmakers thrive, causing enormous losses to the turf clubs. And betting has also gone on the Internet in a further blow to local clubs.
Unscrupulous jockeys
Punters at the clubs reportedly state that the police are in cahoots with betting syndicates and are paid to turn a blind eye to illegal activities. While illegal betting syndicates not only siphon a large chunk of the betting turnover, they are also supposedly into “fixing” the result of races in collaboration with unscrupulous jockeys.
Horses being doped are also not a new happening in the Malaysian scenario. And even if horses are not on dope, it is the jockeys who might be on dope and even if they themselves are not on dope, they sometimes fail to ride out their mounts with full vigour and enthusiasm.
This has caused even leading jockeys to be hauled up by the racing stewards to be suspended or disqualified for wrongs done. This has led punters to surmise that jockeys, betting syndicates, trainers and owners are not concerned much about ethics and integrity.
Even a visitor to these clubs can witness the huge difference between the manner in which countries with a high standard of racing like Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore conduct their races and the way the Malaysian clubs conduct theirs. The standard of Malaysian horse racing is glaringly and evidently poor.
One surefire shocker for visitors is that the tote can “change” dividends while the race has started or, worse still (and it has happened), when the tote dividends change drastically after a race has ended. This leaves a visitor utterly in shock and disbelief as to why there are still punters who wish to participate in Malaysian horse racing.
The number of punters during the Singapore and Hong Kong races is significantly higher. Unless it’s a big cup race in Malaysia, the number of punters attending Malaysian races has dwindled. Those who still remain are the die-hard faithful.
And should it rain, the three clubs will often call off the races for the day. In Hong Kong and Singapore, their tracks can withstand rain and at the most the races will be delayed unless it’s a torrential downpour. Local clubs have been spending millions of ringgit to upgrade their tracks but are still surprisingly unable to solve this problem.
Stooping to a new low
Besides, the number of registered racehorses and the number of horse owners have also gradually declined over the years primarily because the stake money offered by the local clubs is meager and incentives given are still not attractive enough. Even the prize money for the big cup races have been scaled down.
Compounding the situation are trainers with unsuitable qualifications and experience, improper training given to stable hands and operators, and the poor care of horses. All this has caused the sport of kings to stoop to a new low in this country.
It is imperative, for the well being of the Malaysian horse racing industry, that a major revamp be done of the over 100-year-old sport in Malaysia. There is a need to replace corrupt, inept officials with only dedicated officials committed to promoting the sport.
Horse racing can be an interesting and healthy pastime for those who practise a responsible gaming policy and also an indicator of the progress and prosperity of a nation such as Australia, Japan and Singapore where it has grown world-class in stature – and drawing racing fans from all over the earth.
Christopher Fernandez can hardly be considered a punter. But he has followed horse racing in the region since 1978 and has become totally fascinated with equine races.
