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Quest to rehome Singapore horses

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Equine welfare is one of the biggest issues in racing on a global scale, but time is especially of the essence in Singapore, as the sport prepares to shut down for good there in October.

 

In June 2023, the Singapore Turf Club made the announcement that after 180 years, racing would cease to exist on the island following the running of the Grand Singapore Gold Cup in October 2024, prompting many to ask the question; what would happen to the city’s horse population?

 

For Jakki Harrison, former assistant trainer who’s worked in the Singapore racing industry for 17 years, it was a call to action.

 

SG Racehorse Retirement was formed, with the intention of finding permanent homes for the thoroughbreds based at Kranji, concentrating on the older gallopers or horses with injuries.

 

“With such limited space, options for horses to truly retire in Singapore are non-existent,” Harrison said.

 

“Whilst some can go on to be equestrian horses, there is nowhere to retire them to pasture.”

 

Although there has long been a precedent for horses from Singapore to move over the causeway to neighbouring Malaysia, there’s no precedent for such a large number of thoroughbreds to move there in a short space of time, a situation caused by the looming industry closure in the Lion City.

 

“It’s been standard procedure that once horses have finished racing in Singapore, they go on to Malaysia to either continue racing or be ‘re-homed’,” Harrison explained.

 

“But with the numbers in question, the development in science and horse welfare over the past 10-15 years, the horses deserved more.

 

“If now isn’t the time to do what’s right for these amazing animals, I don’t know when is.”

 

For Harrison, France presented itself as the right country for the horses in her target demographics to relocate to.

 

“From a financial standpoint, it was simply too expensive for us to send them to Australia or New Zealand and whilst not cheap, over a four-to-five-year period or more, France is actually cheaper than sending them to Malaysia,” she explained.

 

“All the horses we’re looking to send have won more in prizemoney than what their lifetime retirement in France will cost.”

 

The group has already received support from expat Australian trainers Dan Meagher and Tim Fitzsimmons. It’s one of Fitzsimmons’ former stars, Australian bred gelding Relentless, that has become the banner horse for the SG Racehorse Retirement group.

 

“He was a tough little horse who won five races from 29 starts and almost $400,000 in prizemoney,” Harrison said.

 

“If he’d not run into Singapore’s current superstar in Lim’s Kosciuszko, he would have won the Derby too.

 

“He unfortunately sustained an injury which resulted in an unlikely future return to the track. He’s such a lovely horse and deserves his chance to retire as a horse should.

 

“After a recent visit to see him, I’m thrilled to say he’s thriving in his new life in France.”

 

WATCH: Relentless winning the 2022 Stewards’ Cup in Singapore

 

 

 

Since Relentless, Lim’s Force has also made her way to France, while Magic Wand will be the next horse to be rehomed to the European country as part of the project.

 

However, there is more work ahead to secure the necessary funds that will go towards rehoming more horses from Singapore.

 

“When the announcement was made, there were over 35 older horses that we wanted to help but unfortunately many of these have already left for Malaysia,” she said.

 

“There are now only around 15 horses left in our targeted older age group, but we still need support to send these.

 

“Of course, horses that have already gone over to Malaysia could still be sent to France later with the help of their owners. We are also exploring the option to send younger horses that can be retrained as riding horses.”

 

SG Racehorse Retirement are hoping they can receive greater support from horse owners in Singapore, and that the work the group is currently doing can be a conversation starter more broadly for the best ways that thoroughbreds can enjoy their lives once their racing days are over.

 

“I think raising awareness and educating people as to what environment retired horses should really be kept in is a huge start,” Harrison said.

 

“Welfare standards have changed immensely over the last ten to fifteen years and this should be reflected not only in the way we keep horses in training, but in their life after racing.

 

“Once people understand more, they will hopefully be more aware of why we’re doing what we’re doing and want to help us.”

 

More information on the SG Racehorse Retirement group can be found at https://gofund.me/3e8fe861 or on social media: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556717461641.