Racing at Kranji cancelled until May 4 as Covid-19 restrictions increase

Racing in Singapore has ground to a halt following the announcement that all fixtures at Kranji are to be suspended until at least May 4.

Fresh restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 were announced on Friday in an address to the nation from Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, with most workplaces in the region now closed and schools operating off a full home-based learning system.

The country's latest figures in relation to the virus saw an increase of 65 new infections on Friday, with the total number of cases up to 1,114, including six deaths

Kranji had hosted racing behind closed doors since Thursday of last week but the Singapore Derby, originally scheduled for April 18, had already been postponed.

A statement on the Singapore Turf Club's website said: "In line with the Ministry of Health's (MOH) Advisory on 'Circuit Breaker to Minimise Further Spread of COVID-19', dated 3 April 2020, the Singapore Turf Club (the Club) will be suspending all Singapore race meetings.

"The Club expects the above measure to be in place until 4 May 2020, in line with MOH's latest advisory.

The opening ceremony at Singapore International Airlines Cup Day at KranjiCredit: Vince Caligiuri

"We will continue to carefully evaluate and make necessary changes to our business operations in line with the prevailing advisories from MOH and other relevant agencies.

"The safety and well-being of visitors to the Singapore Racecourse remains the Club’s top priority and we are committed to continue to operate our business in a safe and responsible manner."

The body added of their abandoned Group 1 fixture later this month: "Singapore Turf Club will be rescheduling the Group 1 Singapore Derby to a future date to be determined later."

In line with the government's new restrictions, all Singapore Pools lottery draws will also be postponed from next week and its outlets are being shut down, including the suspension of account betting services.

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