So long, after last furlong
GEORGE TOWN: When the horses gallop past the finishing post at 4.25pm in Race 7 at Batu Gantong today, it will mark the end of the final chapter of the 161-year-old Penang Turf Club (PTC).
And nobody is more disappointed to see the Sport of Kings end this way than stablehand Paramalingam Veeran.
The father-of-two said the club was like his second home as he has been working there all his adult life.
'I feel so sad it has come to this. I do not have any backup plans after taking care of horses for more than 40 years. I really don't know any other work,' he said.
Paramalingam added that two horses under his care called 'Big Monkey' and 'Blue Marine' will be racing for the last time at the club today.
A PTC permanent staff, who declined to be named, said it's not easy to find another job after committing nearly 20 years of his life to the club.
'I'm already in my mid-50s, and I've enjoyed my time here. But I don't know what the future has in store for me,' he said, adding that he will miss the place.
To mark the occasion, the club, which started on a small piece of land in Jalan Macalister (now St George's Girls' School) in 1864, will be holding several commemorative races to bid farewell this afternoon.
Among them are 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 (1,400m race).
On April 20, 318 of the 320 ordinary members voted in favour of the club's closure during the extraordinary meeting, confirming the resolutions passed at the First Special General Meeting on June 10, 2024, to dissolve the club.
According to PTC, the dissolution process is expected to take one to two years.
'The cessation of racing activities is intended to cut losses, and PTC will notify all relevant parties and authorities about its intention to cease racing on a date decided by the club's committee,' the club had said in a statement.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow recently told the state legislative sitting that any redevelopment of PTC land must follow existing Penang Island City Council (MBPP) planning laws.
'The land is privately owned and zoned as a Priority Development Zone 1 for commercial purposes.
'Any request to change its category or conditions must go through the district land office and state Land and Mines Office,' he said.
The land is believed to be held in trust by Tan Sri Goh Eng Toon, Datuk Ong Eng Khuan and Datuk Seri Teh Choon Beng.
The combined size of the land is equivalent to 153 football fields, and when including the built structures, is said to be valued at RM2bil to RM3bil.
However, PTC has not been able to find a buyer for the land touted to be the largest piece of prime real estate in the state.
Meanwhile, the over 600 members of the PTC Golf Section are unhappy with the club's proposed RM7,500 ex-gratia payment to eligible golfing members.
The golfers' management committee is appealing for the sum to be increased for the loss of facilities during the closure, including the nine-hole golf course which lies within the turf club area.
PTC is the oldest of the three horse-racing clubs in Malaysia.
It was initially given a free land grant on Macalister Road for its first racecourse, with the buildings constructed from wood and attap.
It then moved to its current location next to the upscale Taman Jesselton Heights in 1939.
PTC's closure follows the other turf clubs in the region, which had also ceased horse-racing activities due to declining interest in the sport as well as post-pandemic financial challenges.
The Singapore Turf Club held its final race last October, closing a 180-year-old chapter, while Macau Jockey Club shut its doors in April last year.
Malaysia is now left with two turf clubs that still offer horse-racing – Perak Turf Club, founded in 1886, and Selangor Turf Club, founded in 1896.
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