新加坡将关闭百年赛马场 为公共住房腾地

土地稀缺的新加坡即将关闭有180多年历史的赛马场，重新开发来满足住房需求，从此新加坡再无赛马。新加坡马场的最后一场比赛将是于2024年10月5日举行的第100届新加坡金杯大赛。

The space starved island state of Singapore is bringing the curtain down on more than 180 years of horse racing with its sole racecourse set to be handed back to the government to make way for public housing.

土地稀缺的岛国新加坡即将终结180多年的赛马历史，该国唯一的赛马场将被政府收回，将土地用于建设公共住房。

The final race at the Singapore Turf Club will be the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup on 5th October 2024.

新加坡赛马公会的最后一场赛马是第100届新加坡金杯赛，将于2024年10月5日举行。

Located in the northwestern suburb of Kranji, the Southeast Asian nation’s racecourse sits on 300 acres of land – roughly more than 200 football fields.

地处克兰芝城郊西北部的这个赛马场占地300英亩，大约相当于200多个足球场的面积。

It will be returned to government by 2027, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of National Development said in a joint statement Monday.

新加坡财政部和国家发展部6月5日发布联合声明称，政府将在2027年收回赛马场。

The site will be redeveloped to meet the country’s future needs for housing and potentially include venues for leisure and recreation, it added.

这块土地将被重新开发来满足新加坡未来的住房需求，可能也会建设休闲和娱乐场所。

"Singapore is a city-state with limited land. The government continually reviews its land use plans to meet today’s needs while ensuring there is sufficient land for future generations,” the ministries said.

新加坡财政部和国家发展部表示：“新加坡是一个土地有限的城邦，政府不断评审国家的土地使用计划来满足目前的需要，也要确保后代有足够的土地使用。”

Singapore is densely packed with just under 6 million people living in a space slightly smaller than New York City. Over 80% of residents live in public housing and undeveloped land is scarce.

新加坡人口密集，国土面积还不及纽约市那么大，却有将近600万人口。超过80%的居民居住在公共住房中，未被开放的土地非常稀少。

Niam Chiang Meng, the club’s chairman, said in a statement that they were “saddened by the decision of the government to close the club.”

新加坡赛马公会主席严昌明在一份声明中表示，赛马公会对政府关闭马场的决定感到遗憾。

"Singapore Turf Club recognizes that the Kranji site is a valuable resource that can help meet the evolving needs and aspirations of Singaporeans, and this transition will serve to optimize land use for the greater good of the local community and future generations,” Niam said.

“新加坡赛马公会认识到克兰芝的场地是一个宝贵的资源，可以满足新加坡人民不断发展的需求和愿景，这一转变将有助于优化土地利用，造福当地社区和未来世代。”

Despite its long history, horse racing in the city state has seen a decline in viewership over the past decade, the club added.

赛马公会还提到，尽管赛马运动在新加坡拥有悠久的历史，但过去十年来观众人数逐渐减少。

The late Queen Elizabeth II, who had an enduring passion for horse racing, visited the former British colony of Singapore in 1972 to present an inaugural cup in her name, and attended a race there for a second time in 2006, according to its official national archives.

据新加坡官方档案资料显示，一直热爱赛马的已故的伊丽莎白二世女王在1972年访问了这个前英国殖民地，出席了以她的名字命名的杯赛，并在2006年二度到访马场，在那里观看了一场赛马。