GEORGE TOWN — The stable doors closed for the last time on the country’s oldest horse racing circuit, as the 160-year-old Penang Turf Club (PTC) witnessed its final race today.
The seventh and final race was won by Lucky Magic, jockeyed by Shafiq Ridzuan and trained by Cheng Han Yeong.
Earlier, in Race No. 6 for the PTC Farewell Trophy, Super Salute — trained by V. Sivan and jockeyed by C.K. Khaw — beat the competition for the RM250,000 kitty
About 3,000 people — including members of the public, who were granted free entry — turned up to watch the races before the club begins its dissolution process, which is expected to take about two years.
On April 20, a total of 318 out of 320 ordinary members voted in favour of closing the club.
The club also has another 600 Golf Club members, who play on a unique 9-hole course located within the track.
Club general manager Leow Khin Ming told Scoop that racing had been on a downhill of late, citing factors such as a lack of public interest among the challenges facing the sport.
“There’s also illegal betting and online betting, where people can watch and place bets on races without having to put on a suit and tie!
“But this is tradition — and that’s what we are losing. This is a place to meet and make friends. We will certainly miss them,” said Leow.
He said all 126 staff members were being let go in phases.
“They are being adequately compensated under the law. In fact, the club has been magnanimous, giving a little more than what is required statutorily.”
The club occupies approximately 81.7 hectares of prime land along Jalan Batu Gantung, reportedly valued at RM6 billion.
Met at the club, Kebun Bunga assemblyman Lee Boon Heng — whose constituency the racecourse sits in — expressed hope that future plans for the site would include preservation of some of the site’s historical features.
“There is sentimental affinity to this club among the residents here, so hopefully the state will consider some form of preservation for the benefit of the next generation,” he said.
With the closure of the PTC, which opened in 1864 on Jalan Macalister before relocating to Batu Gantung in 1939, Malaysia is now left with only two racecourses — the Perak Turf Club (established in 1886) and the Selangor Turf Club (founded in 1896). — May 31, 2025