KISSIN' AND MAKIN UP FOR LOST TIME

Horse owner Mansoor puts love of racing before money in new Australian adventure

- Michael Lee

Mansoor Gandhi is one of the race-horse owners who has made peace with his favorite sport being wiped off the face of Singapore in two weeks' time.

The Singaporean businessman was among those who joined some of the early discussions with the Singapore Turf Club in a bid to overturn the Government's decision to shut down horse racing on Oct 5.

That in itself felt utopian to the owner of the Al-Arabiya Stable, but an extension to the 18 months' notice (since the June 5, 2023 announcement) sounded more realistic.

As months went by, the negotiations hit a deadlock, which was when he realized that even wresting another extra couple of seasons would be a waste of time.

Like the 500-odd owners registered in Singapore, Mansoor was mostly concerned about his horses' future - where will they end up, how and at what cost?

There was some light at the end of the tunnel when various forms of assistance such as exportation, feed and bedding subsidies were extended.

The defrayal quantum of 90 percent of export costs, capped at $12,000 per horse, was met with mixed reception, especially for owners who were keen for their horses to relocate to the more competitive Australian racing scene instead of taking the preferred Malaysian route.