Royal Turf Club of Thailand

The Royal Turf Club, seen from Baiyoke Tower II

The Royal Turf Club of Thailand under Royal Patronage (Thai: ราชตฤณมัยสมาคมแห่งประเทศไทย ในพระบรมราชูปถัมภ์[lower-alpha 1]), commonly known as the Nang Loeng Racecourse (สนามม้านางเลิ้ง[lower-alpha 2]), is a historic sports club and horse racing venue in Bangkok, Thailand. It was founded in 1916 by a group of aristocrats as an alternative to the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, and became highly popular during the first half of the twentieth century. Horse racing in Thailand declined in popularity towards the end of the twentieth century, and the Royal Turf Club likewise saw large falls in spectator numbers. Nevertheless, it continued to hold races every other Sunday, until its land lease was terminated by the Crown Property Bureau in 2018. The club has long been known as a site of business and political networking among the elite, especially senior military figures.

History

Horse racing was introduced to Thailand (then known as Siam) following King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)'s visit to Europe in 1897. Regular races were held at Gymkhana Club, later the Royal Bangkok Sports Club (RBSC), in Pathum Wan District. The King sponsored the sport, presenting a royal cup for annual competitions.[1]

These exclusive clubs served both Western expatriates and the Thai aristocracy. By 1916, in the reign of King Vajiravudh, conflicts arose between them at the RBSC due to expatriates' introduction of new varieties of sports causing funds to be diverted from horse-racing prize money. Two Thai club committee members, Phraya Atthakanprasit and Phraya Pradiphatphuban, sought to establish a new club, and secured the King's permission to build a racecourse on royally owned land in the Nang Loeng area. King Vajiravudh opened the racecourse on 18 December 1916, naming it the Royal Turf Club and granting it royal patronage. In 1919, the King granted a golden cup, known as the Derby Cup, to be awarded to the winner.[2] The club would also become known as Sanam Thai (the "Thai racecourse"), as opposed to the Sanam Farang ("Farang racecourse") at the RBSC, reflecting the split of the clubs' clients between Thais and Westerners.[3]

One of stated goals of the club was to promote horse breeding, and the club ordered fifty mares from Australia and two Arabian stallions from England for breeding. It also sponsored students to attend veterinary school in the United Kingdom.[2]

Unlike other traditional forms of gambling, horse racing was originally seen as a civilized activity and was (and is) one of the few venues in which gambling was legally permitted in the country. Originally confined to expatriates and the upper class, interest in the sport later spread to other groups in society and horse racing rapidly gained popularity in the 1920s.[1] This eventually led to the sport taking on a negative image. By 1949, when two races were being held every weekend both at the Royal Turf Club and the RBSC, the government, concerned of excessive gambling among the poor, ordered them to be limited only to Saturday, alternating each month between the clubs.[4] (This was later relaxed to both courses each holding one race per week, then tightened to once a week alternating between the clubs in 1982.[5])

By the end of the twentieth century, horse racing was in a long gradual decline. The public mostly saw racecourses as gambling venues where immoral activities took place, and other (illegal) forms of sport gambling also ate into their revenues. The Royal Turf Club saw dwindling spectator numbers (audiences were estimated at about 5,000 in 2018, down from previous numbers of up to 30,000[6]), although the races still served as a venue for business and political networking. Relocation of the Nang Loeng Racecourse to Pattaya was suggested in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but was not acted upon due to cost concerns. Renovations to make the club more attractive to young people and local communities were also considered in 2017, but had not yet taken shape when the Crown Property Bureau, which owns the land, announced in April 2018 that it intended to evict the club, whose latest lease had expired in 2000.[7][8] The final race is scheduled for 16 September 2018.[9]

Facilities

A race at the Royal Turf Club

The club covers about 200 rai (32 ha; 79 acres) of land between Phitsanulok, Rama V, Si Ayutthaya and Sawankhalok Roads, and features facilities including, in addition to the racecourse, a golf course (the Royal Dusit Golf Club), a swimming pool, tennis courts, a fitness centre and dining services.[2]

One of the original buildings on the site is the multi-purpose hall, believed to have been King Vajiravudh's royal stable. However, it is more likely to have been an indoor dressage practice arena. The building is of a rectangular floor plan, decorated in Neoclassical style with stucco and mouldings. It features a large central hall, covered by a steel tied truss roof structure with no pillar support. The building, which now houses badminton courts, received the ASA Architectural Conservation Award in 1984 and is listed as an unregistered ancient monument by the Fine Arts Department.[10]

Races

Races at the Nang Loeng Racecourse generally take place every other Sunday afternoon, alternating with the RBSC. Exceptions occur when an uposatha (Buddhist sabbath) day falls on Sunday, in which case the race is held on Saturday instead. Tickets are sold in three separate tiers, granting access to the lower and upper levels of the grandstand, or an air-conditioned VIP box. Admissions are limited to people 20 years and older.[11] The majority of the audience consists of older men (most aged 45–80, according to an estimate), many of whom have been attending the races every week for much of their lifetime.[6]

Just outside the racecourse, entrepreneurs sell food and drink, cigarettes, programme booklets, and provide binoculars for rent. Rental shoes also used to be a distinctive business at the racecourse, as its rules require proper dress and open shoes are not allowed. However, the rule is no longer strictly enforced, and most rentals have subsequently disappeared.[11]

The club hosts three major events annually: the Derby Cup in January, the President Cup in June, and the Ramraghob Cup in November.[12]

Politics

Veteran politician Maj. Gen. Sanan Kachornprasart frequently used the club for his political activities.[13]

The Nang Loeng Racecourse has long served as a site of political activity. Physically, the racecourse itself served as the site where, following the 14 October uprising in 1973, the National General Assembly was convened to select members for the drafting of a new constitution. Forty years later, in 2012, during the prelude to the following year's political crisis, the anti-government group Pitak Siam used the racecourse for its demonstrations. The group's leader, Gen. Boonlert Kaewprasit, was in fact also the club's honorary secretary (its main administrative post) at the time.[2]

The Royal Turf Club's administration has mostly been dominated by senior military officers. In the 1960s, the old elite's position within the club began to give way to the ruling class of the time. The country was then under the dictatorships of Sarit Thanarat and Thanom Kittikachorn, and army generals Kris Sivara, Surachit Charuserani and Chote Hiranyasthiti came to control the club's administration. Following the 1973 uprising, control was handed to Boonwong Amatayakul and Gen. Chalard Hiranyasiri, who was later succeeded by his close subordinates Maj. Gen. Sanan Kachornprasart and then Gen. Boonlert.[3] In 2016, Gen. Vitch Devahasdin replaced Boonlert as honorary secretary.[14]

The club has typically demonstrated a high level of cronyism in its administration, which controls its large amounts of cash flow. Additionally, the races also serve as a venue for networking among politicians and business people, who comprise most of the participating stable owners. Most of the provincial stable owners are also honorary members of the Royal Turf Club, making the club effectively the central hub among all of the country's racecourses.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ pronounced [râːt.tɕʰa.trīn.na.māj.sa.māː.kʰōm.hɛ̀ŋ.pra.tʰêːt.tʰāj.nāj.pʰráʔbɔ̄.rōm.ma.rāː.tɕʰūː.pa.tʰǎm], RTGS: Ratchatrinnamai Samakhom Haeng Prathet Thai Nai Phraborommarachupatham
  2. ↑ pronounced [sa.nǎːm.máː.nāːŋ.lɤ́ːŋ], RTGS: Sanam Ma Nang Loeng

References

  1. 1 2 Warren, James A. (2013). Gambling, the state and society in Thailand, c. 1800-1945. London: Routledge. pp. 81–82. ISBN 9780415536349.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Rattaphong Sornsuphap (2014). การพนันแข่งม้าในประเทศไทย [Gambling on horse racing in Thailand] (PDF) (in Thai). College of Social Innovation, Rangsit University. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  3. 1 2 แคน สาริกา (31 October 2012). "สนามม้า-สนามการเมือง". Kom Chad Luek (in Thai). Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  4. ↑ Grossman, Nicholas, ed. (2009). "New directive tightens the reins on horse racing". Chronicle of Thailand : headline news since 1946. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet. p. 42. ISBN 9789814217125.
  5. ↑ "ระเบียบกระทรวงมหาดไทย ว่าด้วยการพนันแข่งม้า พ.ศ. 2524 [Regulation of the Ministry of Interior Concerning horse race gambling, B.E. 2524]". Act of 26 October 1981 (PDF) (in Thai). Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  6. 1 2 Mahavongtrakul, Melalin (17 July 2018). "The finish line". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Parnsoonthorn, Krissana (5 May 2017). "Royal Turf Club gallops after youth movement". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  8. ↑ Sabpaitoon, Patpon (7 April 2018). "Horse racing club finally gets turfed out". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "เปิดการแข่งขัน บางกอก มิดไนท์ มาราธอนฯ / จัดการแข่งขันม้านัดประวัติศาสตร์". Channel 7 (in Thai). 28 August 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Multi-purpose Hall, Royal Turf Club". asaconservationaward.com (in Thai and English). Association of Siamese Architects. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  11. 1 2 "เปิดโลกม้าแข่ง การพนันหรือกีฬาแห่งเกียรติยศ". Manager Daily (in Thai). 17 August 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  12. ↑ "Thailand". www.asianracing.org. Asian Racing Federation. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  13. ↑ ""สนั่น"สนามม้า" (PDF). Manager (in Thai). June 1997. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  14. ↑ "ปริศนา"บิ๊กป้อม"กับสนามม้านางเลิ้งขุมทองของ"ขุนศึก"". Kom Chad Luek (in Thai). 12 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2018.

Coordinates: 13°45′48″N 100°31′03″E / 13.76333°N 100.51750°E / 13.76333; 100.51750

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