US $20-million Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre Opens

Since opening its doors last November, the Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre has been a regular haunt for some 500 riders. And the number is set to grow, following its recent official opening by Singaporeâs Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Boasting an open-air and a sheltered arena, the centre will host the showjumping event during the inaugural Youth Olympic Games from 14th to 26th August, having been built to specification in consultation with the International Equestrian Federation.

And its 40 stables are more than enough to accommodate the 38 competition horses that will arrive from Australia next month.

The Singapore Turf Club will use the US $20-million centre, built with funding from the Singapore Totalisator Board, to promote horse-riding as a sport.

At present, the centre is offering 19,000 lesson slots per year, and already, 12 schools are enrolled in the "riding for schools" program. Students undergo a comprehensive 30-week program, which includes classroom lessons on horse anatomy, stable management and horse care and basic riding skills.

In the pipeline are inter-school competitions, which could unearth Singapore's future riding talents.

James Wong, Singapore's Youth Olympic Games Chef-de-Mission, voices nothing but praise for the centre, stating "it's fantastic to see such a facility built in Singapore to give more people the opportunity to learn horse riding. Hopefully, we can find a future Olympian among them."