Penang's farewell Saluted in style
The final chapter in the rich history of the 161-year-old Penang Turf Club (PNTC) was closed on May 31, in front of a big turnout.
A larger than usual crowd of around 3,000 - three times the average attendance - turned up at the Batu Gantong track to mark their presence at the historic but sad day for racing fans.
Plagued by plummeting turnover and attendances, the PNTC becomes the second Malayan Racing Association turf club to bow out, after the Singapore Turf Club on Oct 5, leaving only the Selangor Turf Club and Perak Turf Club.
Asian neighbour, the Macau Jockey Club, also closed its doors on April 1, 2024, unable to square its ledger as well.
After four out of five Penang meetings were cancelled in 2025 (before May 31, the only meeting that went ahead was on March 8) due to the perennial reason of insufficient numbers, many hoped the finale would not fall prey to the same logistics concerns.
But the Malaysian racing fraternity rallied round in force. With trainers and owners from Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh pledging support by sending up their horses, the PNTC was able to honour its word to not go out without offering its patrons one last treat.
Seven races were programmed, with the highlight being the RM250,000 (S$76,000) Penang Turf Club Farewell Trophy, a Special Rapid Stakes A over 1,300m that garnered many top-drawer gallopers, such as Pacific Vampire, Antipodean, Super Salute, Gamestonks, Cheval Blanc and Noah Khan, to name a few.
Though three horses were scratched - the Frank Maynard pair of Cheval Blanc and Circuit Mission and Richard Lim's Faithful Leader - a capacity field of 14 still faced the starter, given all three Emergency Acceptors were available - Pacific Padrino, Streets Of Fire and Shirvo.
In the end, it was former Singapore Group 2 EW Barker Trophy winner Super Salute ($42) who grabbed the honours after taking the shortest way home along the rails for jockey Khaw Choon Kit to reel in favourite Pacific Vampire (Jerlyn Seow) en route to glory.
Sivan Veerapen was proud to be the winning trainer of the last feature race at a place he not only holds fond memories of with many winners, both as a trainer and a jockey, but also for sentimental reasons.
"I was born and bred in Penang. That's where I began my racing career as a jockey," said the 60-year-old, who is based at the Selangor Turf Club.
"I last came here in December for the Penang Gold Cup meeting and five months later, Penang has already changed so much. There has been much land reclaimed and I even saw a new bridge.
"As for today's feature race, I had planned that race for Super Salute. Put it this way, he is one class above the rest, but he also has some issues with his back.
"He can be inconsistent, but he's now come right. I wasn't worried about his 59.5kg as I think he can carry 65kg at his best.
"I just told Khaw not to rush him, he'll finish strongly - and he did."
However, it was the last actual race - and understandably so - that felt more like the real final lap of honour.
Without taking anything away from Super Salute, who certainly deserved accolades for his resounding win, Lucky Magic (Shafiq Rizuan) was greeted to an even more rapturous reception, led by trainer Winson Cheng Han Yong - complete with some tears of joy and a custom-made farewell sash.
The fairy-tale ending of sorts could not have been scripted any better.
Fittingly, Lucky Magic is also the winner of Penang's last classic, the Group 1 Penang Gold Cup (2,000m) in December, and Cheng is, just like Sivan, a hometown boy.
"As a Penang boy, I'm so proud I won the last race in my hometown," said Cheng.
"I targeted two wins and both horses, Graphjet Express and Lucky Magic won. We were so happy with my owners and friends, and even had a farewell banner.
"But at the same time, we can't do anything about it (the closure). I'm sad I won't be coming here to race any more, as I would then visit my mum.
"Of course, I'll still visit her, but I'll definitely miss the races here."
manyan@sph.com.sg
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