Ciango, with jockey Bruno Queiroz atop, takes home the
William Henry Macleod Read Cup.
5 October 2024 was a day for the books as 10,000 racegoers packed Singapore Turf Club's (STC) Grandstand to witness the most historic occasion in Singapore’s horse racing history: the Grand Singapore Gold Cup (SGC).
Guests arriving at the Singapore Turf Club for the Grand Singapore Gold Cup race meeting.
Running from 11am to 6.30pm, the day’s events featured nine showcase races that paid tribute to over 180 years of horse racing history in Singapore, culminating in the Grand SGC with a prize purse of $1.38 million. A bustling turnout underscored the significance of the event, with suites and tables occupied across all levels of the Grandstand. Friends and families of STC employees were invited to witness the race proceedings, creating an atmosphere filled with camaraderie. In addition, free admission tickets for Grandstand Level 1 were offered to the public, allowing the community to partake in this exhilarating event.
The atmosphere abuzz with excitement as racegoers watch the race from the Grandstand Forecourt.
To celebrate the occasion, several special guests were invited, including Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Seah Kian Peng as the Guest of Honour. Guests with deep ties to the sport and the Club’s rich history served as prize presenters for the races. Singaporean TV host and actress Belinda Lee further livened up the day as Master of Ceremonies.
Guest of Honour, Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Seah Kian Peng (centre), waving to the crowd, accompanied by (from left to right)
Singapore Pools Chairman Kaikhushru S. Nargolwala, Tote Board Chairman Mildred Tan, Singapore Turf Club Chairman Niam Chiang Meng, and
Singapore Turf Club President and Chief Executive Irene MK Lim.
It was a fine day as the horses strutted round the Parade Ring and thundered down the racetracks. From the finely manicured tracks to the heritage-inspired menus, it was clear that no detail had been overlooked for what was to be a race meeting par excellence.
Horses making their way out of the Parade Ring and into the horse walk.
Discover the winning connections for the 10 races here:
Race 1: William Henry Macleod Read Cup
Prize presenter: British High Commissioner, Nikesh Mehta OBE
Ciango surged to the finish line to win the $45,000 William Henry Macleod Read Cup.
The winning connections: owner and trainer Kuah Cheng Tee (fourth from right) and jockey Bruno Queiroz (fourth from left), with prize presenter
British High Commissioner to Singapore His Excellency Nikesh Mehta OBE
(second from left).
Race 2: Colonel Cup
Prize Presenter: Winning Sculptor for Singapore Turf Club 1999 Open Art Competition, Ong Kok Peng
Ocean Jupiter shot to the finish line for the 1400m race, clinching victory in the $45,000 Colonel Cup.
Ocean Jupiter (no.5) claims the Colonel Cup with jockey Manoel Nunes on board.
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The winning connections: Legacy Power Racing Stable owner Tan Tiang Huat (third from right), trainer Tan Kah Soon (second from right), and jockey Manoel Nunes (third from left), with prize presenter and Winning Sculptor of Singapore Turf Club’s 1999 Open Art Competition, Ong Kok Peng (first from left).
Race 3: Singapore Turf Club Trophy
Prize Presenter: Singapore Turf Club President and Chief Executive, Irene MK Lim
Te Akau Ben secured a steady win in the $130,000 Singapore Turf Club Trophy.
Te Akau Ben (no.3) with jockey Wong Chin Chuen wins the
Singapore Turf Club Trophy.
The winning connections: Robert Logan (sixth from left) on behalf of
Te Akau Racing Stable, trainer Donna Logan (fifth from right) and
jockey Wong Chin Chuen (fifth from left), with prize presenter and
Singapore Turf Club President and Chief Executive Irene MK Lim (third from left).
Race 4: Yong Thau Yin Cup
Prize Presenter: Great Grandsons of Yong Thau Yin -- Vernon Yong and Andrew Yong
Lim’s Shavano achieved a comfortable victory in the $85,000 Yong Thau Yin Cup.
Lim's Shavano off to a comfortable win with jockey Wong Chin Chuen,
in the Yong Thau Yin Cup.
The winning connections: Lim's Stable owner Lim Siah Mong (eighth from left), trainer Daniel Meagher (third from left), and jockey Wong Chin Chuen (fourth from left), with prize presenters Vernon Yong (second from left) and Andrew Yong
(fifth from left).
Race 5: Abdul Mawi Cup
Prize Presenter: Tote Board Chief Executive, Tan Choon Shian
In a nail-biting finish, The Wild Chief emerged victorious in the $45,000 Abdul Mawi Cup.
The Wild Chief powers home to score in the Abdul Mawi Cup,
with jockey Bruno Queiroz atop.
The winning connections: Loy Hor Siew on behalf of LHL Stable (sixth from left), trainer Jason Ong (seventh from left), and jockey Bruno Queiroz (fourth from left), with prize presenter Tote Board Chief Executive Tan Choon Shian (first from left).
Race 6: Magdalene Tan Cup
Prize Presenter: First Local Female Jockey, Magdalene Tan
Galaxy Bar emerged as the winner of the $85,000 Magdalene Tan Cup.
Galaxy Bar outstays his rivals to take out the Magdalene Tan Cup
with jockey Bernardo Pinheiro.
The winning connections: Owner and trainer Steven Burridge (fourth from right) and jockey Bernardo Pinheiro (sixth from left), with prize presenter Magdalene Tan (fourth from left).
Race 7: Red Numbers Cup
Prize Presenter: Cultural Medallion Recipient, Vincent Leow
Lim’s Bighorn maintained a steady lead to secure victory in the $170,000 Red Numbers Cup.
Lim's Bighorn makes winning look easy with jockey Wong Chin Chuen
in the Red Numbers Cup.
The winning connections: Lim's Stable owner Lim Siah Mong (tenth from right), trainer Daniel Meagher (sixth from left), and jockey Wong Chin Chuen (seventh from left), with prize presenter and 2020 Cultural Medallion Recipient
Vincent Leow (fourth from left).
Race 8: S.R. Nathan Cup
Prize Presenter: Singapore Pools Chairman, Kaikhushru S. Nargolwala
In a surprise win, Pacific Warrior shot to the finish line to claim the $85,000 S.R. Nathan Cup.
Pacific Warrior (no.7) lunges at the post with jockey Bruno Queiroz to score in the S.R. Nathan Cup.
The winning connections: Pacific Stable owner Jimmy Poh (ninth from right),
trainer Daniel Meagher (sixth from left), and jockey Bruno Queiroz (fifth from left) pose alongside prize presenter and Singapore Pools Chairman
Kaikhushru S. Nargolwala (fourth from left).
Race 9: Rocket Man Cup
Prize Presenters: Tote Board Chairman, Mildred Tan, Singapore Turf Club Chairman, Niam Chiang Meng, and Singapore Pools Chairman, Kaikhushru S. Nargolwala
In the final seconds, Pacific Padrino achieved a strong victory in the $85,000 Rocket Man Cup.
Pacific Padrino, with jockey Bruno Queiroz, motors home strongly to claim the Rocket Man Cup.
The winning connections: Pacific Stable owner Jimmy Poh (fourth from left), Sabrina Meagher representing trainer Daniel Meagher (sixth from left), and jockey Bruno Queiroz (seventh from right), with prize presenters: Tote Board Chairman Mildred Tan (second from left), Singapore Turf Club Chairman Niam Chiang Meng (first from left), and Singapore Pools Chairman Kaikhushru S. Nargolwala
(fourth from right).
Race 10: The Grand Singapore Gold Cup
Prize Presenter: Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore, Seah Kian Peng
The Grand SGC was the pinnacle at the race meeting. To honour its centennial milestone, the prize purse for the 2000m race was increased to $1.38 million.
In an unexpected victory, Smart Star pulled ahead just before the 2000m finish line to claim the Grand SGC.
Smart Star surprises at big odds with visiting jockey Muzi Yeni to claim the
Group 1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup.
The winning connections: Smart Bet Stable owner Eugene Lim (fourth from right), trainer David Kok (third from right), and jockey Muzi Yeni (third from left) celebrate alongside the prize presenter and Guest of Honour,
Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Seah Kian Peng (fourth from left).
Additional activities were arranged as part of the Club’s homestretch celebrations on the day.
Heritage Walk
A specially curated Heritage Walk chronicled the evolution of the SGC through bilingual informational panels, highlighting significant milestones and achievements. It emphasised historically significant feature races – Kranji Mile, Singapore Derby, and Queen Elizabeth II Cup, before culminating in a focus on the Grand Singapore Gold Cup.
Attendees go on a journey through time at the Heritage Walk.
Visitors stop at the Heritage Walk to take in the key milestones of the Club.
Capturing Our Beauty Photo Exhibition
Earlier this year, the Club launched a special photo competition inviting the community and members of the public to capture the essence of STC – preserving spaces and moments that reflect its beauty and heritage through their lenses. The exhibition also featured winning photos from a similar photography competition organised for STC employees.
Capturing Our Beauty Photo Competition Winner for Architecture theme, Travis Lee, poses with his winning shot.
Visitors at the Capturing Our Beauty Photo Exhibition admire the winning photos on display.
The photo exhibition proudly unveiled the top 18 winning submissions (15 from the public and three from employees) across the three themes: Architecture, Flora and Fauna, and Racing Experience, selected by an esteemed panel of judges, including renowned photographers Aik Soon and Yik Keat.
Discover the winning photos here.
The Closing Ceremony
With the conclusion of the Grand SGC race came the moment to officially end the day. Guest of Honour, Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Seah Kian Peng, Singapore Turf Club Chairman Niam Chiang Meng, Singapore Turf Club President and Chief Executive Irene MK Lim, and Tote Board Chief Executive Tan Choon Shian officiated the symbolic ceremony. As fanfare and pyrotechnics illuminated the occasion, it marked a poignant culmination of the day’s proceedings, celebrating the rich legacy of Singapore Turf Club.
The iconic scoreboard, which has captured countless thrilling victories and unforgettable moments over the years,
switches over to a simple yet powerful ‘Thank You’ to everyone who has been a part of the Club’s rich legacy.
The Grand SGC pays homage to over 180 years of racing heritage. From its celebratory moments to legendary horses, iconic jockeys, remarkable owners and trainers, and dedicated employees, its homestretch recognised and acknowledged all who have contributed to this moment.
Learn more about our proud history and milestones.
October 2024
