The Kranji Mile will run on Sunday, 20 May, 2018, and will serve as springboard to its launch as an international race next year. As an Invitational Race, the prizemoney of the Kranji Mile will be increased from $1 million to $1.5 million and four international horses will be invited to participate in the race.
With the prizemoney of $1.5 million, the Kranji Mile will be the richest race in Singapore in 2018. In addition to the higher prizemoney, the STC will also pay bonuses to the owners of Singapore-based horses in the race, with the first Singapore horse past the post eligible to receive $100,000 in bonus and second Singapore horse past the post eligible to receive $50,000.
Singapore Turf Club’s President and Chief Executive Mr Chong Boo Ching hopes that these initiatives can create more excitement amongst racing fans and connections.
“We are exhilarated to put Singapore racing back on the world map and believe the way to do so is to offer better incentives and bigger prizemoney to attract the world’s top horses, owners, trainers and jockeys to the Singapore Racecourse,” said Mr Chong Boo Ching.
“This year’s Kranji Mile will be a window into the international races in 2019 to drum up early interest and anticipation among the local and international racing communities. It is an exciting step forward in Singapore Turf Club’s plan to uplift the quality of Singapore racing.”
The STC reported in September, 2017, that one of the major initiatives to revitalise the Singapore racing industry was to reintroduce two international races in 2019.
Consequently the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) and the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) will be converted to international races in 2019 with the Kranji Mile carrying prizemoney of S$3 million and the Lion City Cup carrying prizemoney of S$1.35 million.
Kranji, picture ThoroughbredNEWS
The STC said it was confident that its initiative to stage international races again would enable it to enhance existing ties with international racing connections, as well as attract racing and sports fans from all over the world to Singapore for the premier horse racing event in the Southeast Asian region, come May, 2019.
