Penang Turf Club

Penang Turf Club (3 December 2011)


Penang Turf Club (GPS: 5.41364, 100.29631) is a race course in George Town, Penang. It is located at the end of Jalan Batu Gantung off Scotland Road. It covers prime real estate at the edge of George Town. Originally entered from Jalan Batu Gantung, its main entrance since 2021 is via Persiaran Jesselton Selatan, a new road off Jalan Batu Gantung.

The Penang Turf Club is one of the oldest horse racing venues in Malaysia. Founded in 1864, it is the second in the peninsula after the Singapore Turf Club, which was founded in 1842. Later on, the Perak Turf Club was founded in Taiping in 1886, while the Selangor Turf Club in 1896.

Until 1939, when it moved to its present location in Batu Gantong, the Penang Turf Club had its racecourse off Macalister Road, in the open ground that is today the playing field of St George's Girls' School. One of the member of the club was Kapitan Cina Chung Thye Phin, the last Kapitan Cina of Perak. He donated a fountain to the club. It still stands today on the grounds.

In 2005, there were plans to relocate the Penang Turf Club to the mainland so that the land could be used for housing development, which was to be known as the Penang Global City Centre, or PGCC. However the plans met with opposition from both the public as well as several prominent members of the club itself, and eventually fell through.

Updates on the Penang Turf Club

5 April 2025
Penang Property Talk reports that the Penang Turf Club will cease its horse-racing activities by June 2025. An extraordinary general meeting would be convened on 20 April to formalise the decision, with a two-thirds majority vote needed to dissolve the club.

The oldest horse-racing club in Malaysia, the Penang Turf Club has struggled financially in recent years. Losses had become unsustainable, leading to the inevitable shutdown. The final race meeting is scheduled for 31 May 2025.

Following the EGM, PTC will notify authorieis, wind down operations, and terminate contracts with suppliers. Its 150 employees will be offered voluntary separation or retrenchment packages. The club's next challenge is disposing its prized 81-hectare land in Batu Gantong, valued at between RM2 to 3 billion. Plans may involve subdividing the land to attract buyers.

Getting there

The only bus route near the Penang Turf Club is Rapid Penang 304, which passes through Scotland Road. However, the distance from the nearest bus stop to the turf club itself is over one kilometer.

Penang Turf Club is on the Map of Persiaran Jesselton Selatan, Penang

Penang Turf Club is on the Map of Jalan Scotland, Penang

Penang Turf Club entrance at Persiaran Jesselton Selatan (11 August 2022)


Penang Turf Club (10 December 2020)


Penang Turf Club, as seen from Turf Resort. (17 October 2020)


The racecourse at the Penang Turf Club (30 January 2005)


The Penang Turf Club, as seen from Jesselton Heights (30 January 2005)


The Penang Turf Club, as seen from Scotland Villas
Author: © Uwe Loca

The racecourse, Penang Turf Club (3 December 2011)


Chung Thye Phin Fountain, Penang Turf Club (30 January 2005)

Related Pages

List of Recreation Clubs in Penang and Recreation Clubs in Malaysia