SINGAPORE TURF CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 21

SINGAPORE TURF CLUB

NEW RACECOURSE OPENED

LATEST IN APPOINTMENTS

The sport 'of racing •in the Straits Settlements had a red-letter day ou April 13 with the opening of the Singapore Turf Club's magnificent new racecourse on a site of approximately 2-11 acres purchased lour-years ago from the Bukit Timah Jtubber -Estate. The club was shifting from quarters that it had occupied' for over 90 years, and, with wide vision to the future, had constructed its new course on- the most up-to-date and sumptuous lines, with the very latest structural, investment, and other appoint-, men'ts. The opening ceremony was performed by his Excellency the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Cecil CleutenlL. ~ . , In. the course of his opening address' to an attendance of 5000 people of all nationalities and stations in life, Sir Cecil commented on the immense amount of work that had been done in constructing the new "racecourse, and he envisaged a time,, perhaps* a: generation hence, when Singapore Island would possess one of the most beautiful" natural parks in the world.' CONSTRUCTION OF COURSE. '"Early in 1030—not lone after I arrived 5n Singapore." he paid,' "the stewards of •the Turf Club took mo with them on a visit to this valley. The approach road had not then been' constructed and we drove through the Bukit Timah Rubber Estate to a point below the causeway over which a racing track now runs. The valley did not at that time in the least resemble a racecourse. Indeed one had to look at the countryside with the eye of faith that removes mountains and exalts valleys, in 'order to conceive of the possibility of horses being galloped here. "Later in 1930 I visited this valley ou horseback, and on that occasion H.H. the Sultan of Perak rode with me. We were by ourselves and "we approached this course, then under construction nud a busy scene of tip-trucks, light railway?, and steam navvies, by a rough path, not at all comparable- to the pleasant bridletrack .over which wo rode today. "Even then, although the vague outline of a future racecourse' had become apparent, his1 Highness and I found great difficulty in believing we were actually on a racing track and that ours were the first horses to be ridden on a course that in future would be devoted to training and galloping Derby winners. Tha place, indeed, looked much more like a tin mine "All .the-.moie, therefore, do I admire the -foresight and , vision of those, who direct the policies of! the Singapore Turf Club for. having nettled upon this valley as the site for their racecourse. "We are here at one., extremity of a wide area, which I like to think of as a colonial park. Its' future potentialities are very great.' I expect that, one day, the Singap6re Pc-16 Club will have, its grounds -in the immediate vicinity of this racecourse. Then, not far; off, are the Bukifc Timah.golf links, extending along the margin of the Macßitchie reservoir, a beautiful eheefc of water, where, I hope, before long, facilities will be afforded for boat racing and regattas comparable to those sit Henley. In addition, it would' jiot "be difficult to convert the abandoned rajlway track between Newton Toad station arid this racecourse into a Kind of -Rotten Row, whereon horsemen could fide from tbo residential part of Singapore city either to this place or to jothcr pomts'in the colonial park. "If all.'thi's-c6mes to pass, then,-iii the

I course of a generation, Singapore Island ' will possess one of the most beautiful natural parks in the whole world—an asset not merely of aesthetic value, but of the greatest benefit to the health of its inhabitants. For, within this park, recreations of every kind would be enjoyed by all classes of the community. Nor could there be any more pleasant place for a walk or a picuic." HISTORY OF THE CLUB. In the absence of the present chairman of the club, .Mr. K. Page, who was away from the colony on leave, the history of the club was outlined by the previous chairman, Mr. G. R. Holden Webb, who bad made a special journey from New Zealand to be present at the opening. Mr. Webb, now resident at Kelson, New Zealand, held the reins of office in 1029 and 1930, very inportant years as regards the construction of the course. He recalled in his address that the club had been founded in 1542, under the name of the Singapore Sporting Club, with the object of eucoureging the importation nnd improvement of horses in the colony. The Government of that day had given to the club, on its foundation, possession of part of the ground on which the late course stood. That course was made by the club out of a swamp; On March 31, 1867, such satisfactory progress had been shown by the club that the Government had given -a lease for 999 years, at a peppercorn rent, of the land —50 acres in extent—to Messrs. J. Cameron, W. H. Read, and C. H. H. Wilson, as stewards of the Sporting Club, on condition that the ground should, be always kept clear of brushwood and be maintained .in good order, to the satisfaction of the local Government, as a public race ground and rifle practice ground for the troops stationed in the colony and the Singapore. Rifle Volunteers. In 1924 the name of the club had beeri .changed to the Singapore Turf Club, and consequent on that change of name the original lease was surrendered and a new lease granted by the then Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Laurence Guillemard. In 1927 the club's committee had come to the conclusion'that either extension of .the existing course with an entirely uew lay-out was necessary or a new and more ebmrhodiouß site should be obtained. It was found'that extension of the old site was not practicable. The discovery of a satisfactory new pite on a comparatively 'snfall island like Singapore was not an easy matter. After various sites had been considered the one at the sixth mile, Bukit Timah Road,' was finally selected, _.. The club's acting-chairman, Mr; ft. S. Manasseh. referring to the presence at the opening of Mr. "Webb, said that at the annual general meeting of members in February it had unanimously been decided to invite Mr. and Mr*.. Webb to attend the opening as guests of the club. Unfortunately Mrs. Webb had been unable to accept, but Mr. Webb had graciously made the trip from New Zealand, He "had no hesitation in sayinp that it was iv a very, great mer.sure due to the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. Webb that the new course had been' constructed, and he felt that he could not do better than to ask him to relieve him of the mantle of responsibility and to address his Excellency on matters leadins; up to the ceremony that was being held.