Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of Fitzsimmons Racing
Singapore-based Australian trainer Tim Fitzsimmons was on Monday night experiencing a range of emotions; the strongest and most present - disappointment.
The Singapore Turf Club (STC) on Monday confirmed what many stakeholders feared, that thoroughbred racing in the Lion City will cease as of October 2024.
“It’s flattening,” an indignant Fitzsimmons, who has been based in Singapore for the past 16 years and currently sits third in the trainers’ premiership, told TDN AusNZ.
“We’ve been angry for a long time, and now I think everyone’s just sad. Because it’s a great place, it’s an amazing facility. When I came here 16 years ago, I thought, ‘This is the next Hong Kong’. To see it wither away, yeah, it’s just sad.
“We’ve been angry for a long time, and now I think everyone’s just sad.” - Tim Fitzsimmons
“I’ve got a big team of horses, I’ve got 55 in the stable, and lots of new ones, I’ve probably got 15 unraced ones. I’ve got lots of great owners that love racing here and it’s still a good place to race horses.”
Fitzsimmons admitted the rumour spilled into overdrive on the Gold Coast last week and the worst fears were realised on Monday.
“The rumour probably started going around maybe three weeks ago. We couldn't get any confirmation on it. It kept getting stronger and stronger and when we were at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale last week, there was an article that came out,” he said.
“We weren’t told anything, really, which we thought was strange, but then we got called to an emergency meeting (on Monday) and got told the news by the STC CEO Irene Lim.
Tim Fitzsimmons | Image courtesy of Fitzsimmons Racing
“It’s all happened pretty quickly.
“Again, we haven't been told too much, other than it’s going to continue until October 2024. It’ll be the same amount of races, no cuts to prizemoney.”
It is understood the government plans to reclaim and repurpose the land at Kranji, where the racecourse has been situated from 2000.
“Yeah, that’s what they told us. Apparently, they did a land review and they’ve decided to take it back,” the Australian added.
Kranji racecourse | Image courtesy of the Singapore Turf Club
“I don't know how long they’ve known about it.”
Fitzsimmons confirmed earlier reports that stakeholders have been told by the STC that the repatriation of horses will be paid for.
“Apparently, the Club will subsidise all the travel for the horses to go back to wherever you want to send them. But, I wouldn’t be surprised if they backpedalled on that one.”
Fitzsimmons, who started out in the industry as an 18-year-old and gained experience with several leading yards in Victoria, including Bart Cummings, Greg Eurell and Jim Conlan, accepted compatriot Cliff Brown’s invitation to join his yard and relocated to Kranji in 2007. Fitzsimmons climbed through the ranks and became Brown’s assistant trainer in March 2014.
He has been training in his own right for the past three-and-a-half years and enjoyed his first Group race triumph when Golden Monkey (Star Turn) took out the SngG3 Singapore 3YO Sprint last June. Fitzsimmons enjoyed further Group success when Golden Monkey saluted in the SngG2 Singapore Classic only three weeks later.
“We’re all a bit lost. I’m sitting in the office with fellow-trainer (Australian) Dan Meagher and we’re trying to work out where we go from here,” Fitzsimmons explained.
“I’m not sure what I will do, I’ll just let the dust settle and work that out.
“We’re all a bit lost. I’m sitting in the office with fellow-trainer (Australian) Dan Meagher and we’re trying to work out where we go from here.” - Tim Fitzsimmons
“I'm only 41, so there’s plenty of working life ahead of me.
“I’m here with my wife and three kids… it’s going to be a shock to them.”
