SINGAPORE TURF CLUB HONOURS HISTORIC RACING LEGACY AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP
In appreciation of racegoers, Singapore Turf Club (STC) is offering free admission to the Grandstand Level 1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup 2024 race meeting slated for 7 September 2024
As anticipation builds for the Grand Singapore Gold Cup (GSGC), STC is proud to host the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Cup on 7 September 2024. The race meeting is a historically significant feature race in STC’s Homestretch Celebrations leading up to the GSGC slated to take place on 5 October 2024, and a unique opportunity to honour STC’s heritage as Singapore’s home of horse racing for over 180 years.
As a gesture of appreciation to racegoers, STC is offering free admission to the Grandstand Level 1 for the QEII Cup race meeting.
A tribute to horse racing heritage
The QEII Cup pays tribute to both the sport of horse racing and Singapore's rich racing heritage.
The inaugural QEII Cup was held on 20 February 1972 during the late Queen Elizabeth II's first-ever state visit to Singapore, accompanied by the late Prince Philip and Princess Anne. It was a commemorative moment when STC hosted a race named in her honour, drawing close to 26,000 spectators. The inaugural race which took place at the Bukit Timah Racecourse was won by legendary English jockey, Lester Piggott and the Ivan Allan-trained top galloper, Jumbo Jet.
Thirty-four years after their first visit, the late Queen Elizabeth II and late Prince Philip made history again with a second visit to STC, this time at the Kranji Racecourse on 18 March 2006. Her Majesty presented the trophy to the triumphant jockey Richard Lim who rode Steven Burridge-trained King And King to victory.
Samiah Bte Hassan, who has worked at STC for 34 years, warmly recalls the early days of the race. "I still remember the excitement and anticipation in the air during Her Majesty's visit in 2006. The QEII Cup was a spectacle unlike any other. Over the years, the Cup has evolved, but the spirit of the race remains the same. It's a testament to our commitment to preserving this heritage."
A decade after the late Queen’s second visit to STC, the QEII Cup was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2016. Today, the race has a prize purse of $300,000 and covers a distance of 1,800m on turf.
“The Queen Elizabeth II Cup serves as a testament to Singapore’s historical ties with the British. Inaugurated in 1972, the race was created to honour the late Queen Elizabeth II’s first state visit to Singapore. Her second visit in 2006, 34 years later, further cemented the Cup’s significance and her enduring relationship with Singapore,” said Dr Amelia Allsop, an accomplished institutional historian and archivist from History Ink, engaged by STC to document the Club’s rich history.
“Queen Elizabeth II Cup Heritage Walk” at Singapore Turf Club
During the QEII cup, racegoers can look forward to a specially curated heritage walk which chronicles the origins of the QEII Cup and its evolution as one of the most prestigious events in Singapore’s racing history. The heritage walk is designed to be both informative and engaging, with bilingual display panels highlighting significant milestones and achievements. It is situated along the walkways leading to the STC Grandstand from the Kranji MRT station and the taxi / drop-off point.
Register for free tickets in two ways for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Following the overwhelming public interest seen in the recent Singapore Derby race meeting free admission, STC is delighted to provide free admission to Grandstand Level 1 for the QEII Cup on 7 September 2024. Admission is only allowed for adults above 18 years of age. Interested members of the public can register in two ways:
1. Online at turfclub.com.sg/free-admission
Those who wish to attend may register for free tickets from today at turfclub.com.sg/free-admission. As free admission tickets are limited, it is advisable to register early to avoid disappointment.
2. In-person ticket collection
In-person ticket collection is available at STC’s MRT Plaza, taxi / drop-off point, and Grandstand Level 1 on the following race days: 18 August, 25 August and 1 September, from 11am to 5pm. Ticket collection is also available on the actual race day, 7 September 2024, only at STC’s MRT Plaza and taxi / drop-off location, while tickets last.
For more information, please visit this this link: www.turfclub.com.sg/queen-elizabeth-ii-cup-2024.
Appendix – QEII Cup Notable Highlights
- The Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Singapore Turf Club was inaugurated to commemorate the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s first-ever official visit to Singapore on 20 February 1972.
- With a race distance of over 2,200m and a prize money of $35,000, the winner of the race had the honour of receiving the Cup presented by Her Majesty.
- The winner of the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Cup was the New Zealand gelding horse named Jumbo Jet, owned by Singaporean lawyer Dato Lee Ah Seong, ridden by English champion jockey Lester Piggott and trained by Ivan Allan.
- Jumbo Jet was celebrated in 1972 as the ‘first horse to place Singapore on the world racing map,’ winning 4 classics - the Singapore Derby, the Perak Derby, the Tunku Gold Cup, and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, all within six months.
- On 18 March 2006, the late Queen Elizabeth II and the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visited the Kranji Racecourse for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. For the second time in history after 34 years, the Queen presented the trophy to winning jockey Richard Lim and trainer Steven Burridge, of the aptly named winning horse King And King.
- The Queen Elizabeth II Cup speed records are held by the following horses: Tropic Storm (2,212m), Towkay (2,200m), Emerald Isles (2,000m) and Hongkong Great (1,800m).
- Notable owner Jerry Sung and legendary trainer Dato’ Seri Teh Choon Beng formed the most legendary partnership of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup, garnering five wins together in 1978, 1982, 1986, 1991 and 1995.
Appendix – Photos from the Queen Elizabeth Cup II over the years
Horses race down the track during the inaugural the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (20 February 1972).
Source: Singapore Turf Club Archives.
The late Queen Elizabeth II presenting Singaporean lawyer Lee Ah Seong, owner of Jumbo Jet, with the Queen Elizabeth II Cup trophy (20 February 1972).
Source: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.
The late Queen Elizabeth II presents the Queen Elizabeth II Cup jockey trophy to winning jockey Richard Lim (18 March 2006).
Source: Winning Post, May/June 2006 issue.
About Singapore Turf Club
Founded in 1842, Singapore Turf Club (STC) is Singapore’s only horse racing club. A destination that has consistently been reinventing experiences and bringing fun and excitement to the communities, STC’s sprawling 124-hectare Kranji grounds features world-class horse-racing tracks and a splendid Grandstand. It can support both large-scale and intimate sporting competitions and lifestyle events.
A proprietary club of the Tote Board, STC’s focus is on cultivating horse racing as a prestige sport and creating a first-class horse-racing community in Singapore with integrity and professionalism. STC is also a learning hub for specialised equestrian skills and a provider of impeccable stabling, horse training and horse-event support. For more information about STC, please visit www.turfclub.com.sg.
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