KUALA LUMPUR:  Dec 8, 2011

The Selangor Turf Club (SLTC) will 'breakaway' from the other two Malaysian clubs to stage races with its own set of race-day officials in the new year.

Hitherto, the three Malaysian clubs share the same set of officials from the MRA Malaysia office.

It is understood that SLTC will stage one-day meeting on most Saturdays, sometimes clashing with meetings staged by the Penang and Perak Turf Clubs.

However, horses based in Penang and Ipoh will still be eligible to enter for races staged in Kuala Lumpur.

The revised racing dates for 2012 will be finalised at the next MRA meeting in Penang on Dec 23.

Towards this 'breakaway', the SLTC had already set the wheel in motion by hiring their own group of starters and barrier handlers in the middle of this year.

Mark Hill, the Chief Stipendiary Steward of Malaysia, resigned earlier from the MRA Malaysia to join SLTC, only for him to decide to leave Malaysia altogether later after he and his wife were assaulted as they were getting out of the lift of their condominium in Kuala Lumpur last October.

It is also understood that two commentators had also resigned from the MRA Malaysia to join SLTC in the new season, and that the club has shortlisted candidates for the posts of stipendiary steward and handicapper.

The official programme released today by the SLTC gave an good indication of things to come. There will be a one-day meeting on Jan 14 (Saturday) for which entries close Jan 5.

There will be a two-day meeting on Jan 23 and 24 (to coincide with the Chinese New Year holidays) for which entries close on Jan 12. The Selangor races on Jan 15 has been cancelled.

The original racing schedule has SLTC staging a four-day meeting on Jan 14, 15, 23 and 24.