Falls, injuries, starvation: What life is like for jockeys in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Horses galloped past, riders perched high on their backs as the sun rose over Singapore Turf Club’s Kranji racetrack.

Jockeys and stable hands here start their day before the sun is up, getting ready to exercise the horses before the tracks open at 6am.

Apprentice jockey Jerlyn Seow’s horse strained at her reins as it cantered round the track, eager to go. It takes strength and skill to guide the spirited and well-muscled thoroughbreds.

On a typical day, Seow takes six to 10 horses around the track.

If horses don't get enough exercise, they get stressed and may develop colic, which can lead to death in severe cases. They might also get “too fresh”, says the 29-year-old.

“When horses are too fresh, they have the tendency to injure themselves, like outside on the road, or inside the box. They could jump around, buck around, kick the walls and they might hurt themselves,” she said.

Track work ends at 10am, and horses are led back to the stables where they are washed and brushed. Professional jockeys who have earned their stripes only have to ride, and they end their day here.

As an apprentice who got her racing licence just two years ago, Seow helps to care for horses, brushing them down, cleaning their boxes and feeding them. She’s attached to the Stephen Crutchley Stable and was working towards becoming a full-fledged jockey – until the authorities announced the impending closure of Singapore Turf Club by October 2024.

It’s an unusual choice for a young woman, especially since she didn’t take naturally to horse riding.

“From young, I've watched this Hong Kong drama called On and Off The Track. It left a deep impression on me (that) horse racing is a majestic sport,” she said. 

Seven years ago, Seow decided to pursue her