The Association of Racehorse Trainers says that about 700 people in the industry could be affected, on top of the 350 employees from the Singapore Turf Club.
SINGAPORE: About two weeks ago, horse trainer Jason Lim heard rumours about the closure of the Singapore Turf Club, but he did not believe there was any truth to them.
“I didn't think the Turf Club would close, we have 180 years of heritage,” the 42-year-old said in an emotional phone call on Monday night. “This is the only thing I know, I don’t know anything else.”Michael Clements, the president of the Association of Racehorse Trainers, said that the news was “devastating”.
Mr Clements, who runs Michael J Clements Racing Stables, revealed some of his clients had recently purchased young horses to race in Singapore and were unaware “the government have been planning to close it down”. Mr Lim and Mr Clements added that while they understand the government’s decision, they both felt the closure should have had a longer timeline on top of a plan to wind down the wider industry.Mr Lim currently employs 15 workers to manage about 30 horses under his care, and some of the horses were imported recently by their owners, he said. His stables help owners acquire horses, as well as to train and care for them for a monthly maintenance fee of about S$4,000 each.
They are also concerned about their staff and livelihoods. At a press conference on Monday, the authorities said that about 350 employees from the Singapore Turf Club will be retrenched, and that they will be given help to reskill and with job placement.
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