SINGAPORE — Road users were both amused and bemused by the sight of a horse wandering on the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE).
Some even jokingly speculated that this adventurous horse might be searching for a new job following the announcement of the Singapore Turf Club’s closure by March 2027.
A video captured by a dashcam was shared on the Facebook page “SG Road Vigilante,” providing evidence of the incident that occurred on Saturday afternoon (8th July) at the BKE exit leading to Turf Club Road.
The footage clearly shows vehicles in the left lane significantly slowing down while a brown horse is observed galloping ahead.
The one-minute video captures the horse swiftly maneuvering from the left lane to the right lane, causing other vehicles on the road to decelerate. At times, the horse looks back and eventually comes to a halt in front of a vehicle.
In the concluding moments of the video, personnel from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) can be seen leading the horse away to prevent it from re-entering the lane and causing further disruption to traffic.
The amusing scene sparked discussions among viewers, with some jokingly suggesting that the horse might be aware of the impending job loss and attempted to escape to Malaysia.
The horse escaped from the Bukit Timah Saddle Club
The horse’s escape from the Bukit Timah Saddle Club and its subsequent appearance on the expressway was reported by the Straits Times.
Regarding the incident, a spokesperson from the Singapore Turf Club confirmed, “We are aware that a horse belonging to Bukit Timah Saddle Club found its way outside its stable and onto the roads briefly. It has since been returned safely to its stable.”
The ST reached out to Bukit Timah Saddle Club but they declined to provide a comment.
In February, after occupying 51 Fairways Drive for 72 years, the riding school Bukit Timah Saddle Club relocated to new premises at the Singapore Turf Club (STC) in Kranji.
This move was necessary to accommodate the construction of the Cross Island MRT line. The club transferred a total of 78 horses to the new location.
MOF and MND announce the closure of STC by March 2027
The Singapore Turf Club (STC), the city’s lone horse racing club founded in 1842, has announced its closure by March 2027.
This decision follows a joint statement from the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Ministry of National Development (MND), pointing towards a substantial decline in local horse racing spectatorship and an opportunity to repurpose the land to meet Singapore’s future land use needs.
Spectatorship at the Club has seen a steady decline over the past decade, plummeting from an average of 11,000 spectators per race day in 2010 to about 6,000 in 2019.
After the racecourse’s reopening in 2022 following COVID-19-related closures, the average attendance fell further to about 2,600 per race day, according to Ms Indranee.
During a Parliamentary session on 3 July, Indranee Rajah, the Second Minister for Finance and for National Development, highlighted the comprehensive development plans for the current Singapore Turf Club (STC) site.
These plans aim to address the growing housing demands in the region, including the provision of public housing and facilities for leisure and recreation, as part of the larger North Region development strategy.
Approximately 700 racehorses will be affected by the closure of the STC. Ms. Indranee stated that once the races come to an end, these horses will need to be rehomed.
The STC is currently engaging in discussions with horse owners and trainers to determine the additional support required to facilitate the smooth rehoming process.
However, Ms. Indranee also emphasized that horse owners bear the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of their horses. It is important to note that under the Animals and Birds Act, abandoning horses or neglecting their proper care would constitute an offense.
