On Saturday, the curtain will drop on 182 years of horse racing history in Singapore with the 100th and final running of the Singapore Gold Cup.

The prestigious event, renamed the S$1.38m Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) for its last edition, will be the centerpiece of a ten-race card. For many involved at the state-of-the-art Kranji facility, the day will be bittersweet. Over 10,000 fans will fill the venue, celebrating the local racing stars while grappling with the reality that this will be their final moment in the spotlight. After this day, the Singapore Turf Club will close, and its 120 hectares (297 acres) of land will be handed back to the government by 2027 to be redeveloped for public and private housing.

For those connected to the sport, it's a loss that feels even heavier than a funeral. Racing has been a cornerstone of Singaporean culture, and the track has been a host to countless visitors and historic moments over the years. We remember our first visit to the course in 2004, witnessing Epalo's Singapore Cup win, as the race was gaining recognition on the world stage. That year, South Africa’s Surveyor finished second, adding to the excitement.

It’s truly heartbreaking to see the end of this chapter. Having returned to Kranji on numerous occasions, we never imagined Singapore’s ambitious racing scene would fall away. The island nation, so determined to be a leader in both its economic and racing futures, now bids farewell to one of its proudest institutions. On Saturday, the grand old lady of Singaporean racing will retire for good after 182 years.

 Image the 2012 version of this event with Bollywood Star Aishwarya Rai in attendance where we interviewed her.