AFTER more than 160 years, the Penang Turf Club (PTC), which is the oldest horse racing club in the country, will be dissolved.
This was decided during a special general meeting at the club's premises in Batu Gantung yesterday.
A total of 318 out of 320 ordinary members supported the club’s closure, confirming the resolutions passed at the First Special General Meeting on June 10, 2024, to dissolve.
There were only two spoilt votes.
Founded in 1864, PTC is Malaysia’s oldest horse-racing club but has reportedly struggled financially in recent years.
The final race meeting is scheduled for May 31, closing a storied chapter in Penang’s sporting history.
The club will initiate the dissolution process, expected to take one to two years.
Currently, PTC has two trainers and only eight horses in its stable.
In June last year, the club voted to sell its historic land in Batu Gantung, in a motion that was overwhelmingly supported, with 146 members in favour and only three against.
PTC’s closure reflects a regional trend with the Singapore Turf Club ending its 180-year racing legacy last year, while Macau Jockey Club shut down after financial struggles. For Malaysian racing enthusiasts, only the Perak and Selangor Turf Clubs remain.
The Singapore Turf Club held its final race in October, closing a 180-year-old chapter, while the Macau Jockey Club shut its doors in April last year.
For Malaysian racing enthusiasts, only the Perak (founded in 1886) and Selangor (founded in 1896) Turf Clubs remain.
The PTC will be remembered as a symbol of Penang’s colonial past and sporting heritage. – April 21, 2025
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