Closely related to the Australian and Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse racing industry, the purse winnings from the Singapore Derby are comparable in size to the ones in the U.S. and U.K. Along with that, bettors in Singapore focus on key events like the Singapore Derby since other forms of gambling are not available in that country. For anyone that is looking to place a bet on this race, some historic information concerning this event will help you get started.
History of horse racing in Singapore
Like many areas in Asia that have Thoroughbred horse racing, Singapore also gained this form of entertainment from the British. When they were colonizing the country in the early 1800s, the British formed a relationship with Australia that has remained strong over the past 200 years. While many races were conducted beforehand, the official thoroughbred angle began in 1842 with the founding of the Singapore Turf Club (called the Singapore Sporting Club before 1924).
Important facts about the originators of the Singapore Derby include:
· Their first racetrack was called the Serangoon Road Racecourse at Farrer Park.
· The first Thoroughbred came to Singapore from Australia in 1880.
· The club held their first race in 1843 and moved to Bukit Timah (1933 to 1999) and eventually rested at the Singapore Racecourse at Kranji.
· Horse racing in Singapore is year-round, and usually held on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
· Most of the horses that race in Singapore are from South Africa, Hong Kong, Australia, France, U.K., or Japan.
How Singapore’s gambling history began
While it was not always the case, the Singapore Turf Club is currently the only legal horse racing and horse betting (called ‘totalisator’ in Singapore) organization in the country. Like other countries around the world, gambling has been through difficult times in the past. In particular, Singapore hit a rough patch in the 1970s. At that time, there were many off-track bookies that were lending to crime in the area.
On the other hand, this kind of un-restricted gambling was popular, and the city’s elite would come out to the track to show off their wealth. In 1986, the government of Singapore curbed illegal betting, but the horse racing industry remained strong. In the end, bettors were able to make more profits and illegal bookies were cut out of keeping the extra winnings.
Rise of the Kranji Racecourse
The strong history of Singapore’s Thoroughbred horse racing is intriguing considering it never seriously expanded beyond one race course. For 90 years, events like the Singapore Derby were held at Serangoon Road Racecourse at Farrer Park until the Bukit Timah racetrack was built. It was there that the Singapore Derby was revived in 1959. When Bukit Timah was closed, the last official race was the 1999 Singapore Derby. With that, a new century was ushered in, and Kranji Racetrack opened. Today the Bukit Timah is known as Turf City or the Grandstand and it is a collection of shops.
How the Singapore Derby began
Each July, Kranji Racecourse opens their doors to the historic Singapore Derby. This Thoroughbred event started as soon as the first horses were brought to Singapore from Australia in 1880. For the next thirty years, it would be run at the Serangoon Road Race Course at Farrer Park until it was cancelled in 1910. After the Serangoon Road Racecourse closed in 1933, it would still take some time before the race was revived in 1959 at Bukit Timah.
As one of the first races in Singapore, it is still regarded as a ‘Classic’ and the $1,000,000 S (USD $800,000) purse follows this line of thinking. The horses at the track are ranked by World Thoroughbred Rankings as some of the top in the world. For instance, in 2012, two horses associated with the Kranji Racecourse were named on the list. The race is also spotlighted by Emirates Airlines, and they have been an active sponsor for over a decade.
With so much excitement, it is not difficult to understand why the Singapore Derby is one of the top betting opportunities for internet gamblers worldwide. Like other countries with internet betting, the Singapore Derby is putting together profits for gamblers that are incomparable to your typical day at the local track. For this reason, be sure to mark your calendars for this annual event and prepare an online betting account to put down a serious wager that will fill your pockets with cash payouts.
Singapore Derby facts for bettors
· Grade 1 race on a turf surface
· Limited to four-year-old horses
· Only domestic horses from Singapore can run in the Singapore Derby
· Distance is 2000 meters (10 furlongs/1.24 miles)
· Colts, geldings, and fillies can run in the Singapore Derby
· Distances have changed dramatically over the years and included 2413.5, 2425.38, 2011.25, 2400, and 2000 meters
· Past 10 years of Singapore Derby winners: 2012 Chase Me, 2011 Clint, 2010 Race Ahead, 2009 Jolie’s Shinju, 2008 Top Spin, 2007 Lim’s Prestige, 2006 Our Falstaff, 2005 Hello and Goodbye, 2004 Dreyfuss, 2003 Lead to Victory, 2002 Smart Bet
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