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Brief History > Overview

Horse racing started in this country in the early 1800s, introduced by British traders from Singapore. Despite being a foreign sport in a country which at that time was known more for its cock-fighting and bullock cart contests, horse racing gained a foothold and over the years developed into the highly popular and participatory sport that we know today.

Organized horse racing began strictly as an amateur sport with the setting up in 1842 of the Singapore Sporting Club, the brainchild of William Henry Macleod Read. Ponies from Java and China, brought to this part of the world by Arab and Chinese traders, dominated the racing scene then.

It was not until horses were brought in from Australia in the late 1880s that horse racing took off in earnest. Race meetings of three to four days were held twice a year. Those held in May were known as the Spring Meeting and in October as the Autumn Meeting. The first race meeting was run on February 23 and 25, 1843, with a prize money of RM150.

In the late 1800s, racing clubs sprouted in the Malay Peninsula, starting with Penang in 1864 and followed by Perak and Selangor in 1886. At the turn of the century, races were held not only in the major towns but also places like Seremban, Kelang, Taiping, Batu Gajah and Alor Setar.

The year 1896 was a milestone in the history of racing when the Straits Racing Association (now the Malayan Racing Association or MRA) was formed to regulate and coordinate racing at the four Turf Clubs. Horse racing thus became organized on a professional basis and thoroughbred horses were introduced.

The Second World War interrupted but did not stop the progress of horse racing in the country. After the war, professional racing resumed under the auspices of the British Military Administration.

Weekend racing was introduced in 1959 and was only organized on a regular basis from the late 1970s.

In 1960, another milestone in the history of racing was reached when the Turf Clubs threw open their doors to the public.

A year later, off-course betting was introduced at the four Turf Clubs to revolutionise the industry and promote further the popularity of the sport among the public. Initially, racing was covered over the radio but the advent of the television and satellite made possible live telecast of races. Racing fans were given the opportunity to watch live telecasts of major events in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia.

Racing has become more exciting with the competition getting keener and the stakes bigger. The first modest prize money of RM150 in 1843 has now swelled to a small fortune, prompting horse owners to bring in better bloodstock to enhance the quality of racing in Malaysia. The Malaysian circuit is now on par with international standards. The racing horse population itself has grown, and there are currently about 1900 horses competing within the Malaysian circuit.

The industry has also assumed an increasingly Malaysian character. Locally-bred thoroughbreds from the National Stud Farm in Tanjong Rambutan are being featured in greater numbers, with several making their mark on the local circuit. Malaysians continue to improve in professionalism. There are now several well-established local trainers and jockeys as well as the first and only female handicapper.

With new and improved spectator and leisure facilities at the Turf Clubs, more Malaysians now enjoy the thrill of thoroughbred racing as they have a good meal with family and friends.

Today, horse racing in Malaysia has come a long way. From its small beginnings as a British import featuring ponies from Java and China, it has grown into a multi-million ringgit industry contributing to the economy and providing employment opportunities to a large number of Malaysians.