A race club in Malaysia has taken the extraordinary step of effectively forcing owners to back their horse every time they run in a bid to combat declining pari-mutuel betting turnover on its meetings.
Perak Turf Club, soon-to-be just one of just two race clubs operating in the Asian country, has written to Malayan Racing Association-licensed trainers informing them that an extra 1000 ringgit (A$364) would be payable per horse when nominating for a race at the Ipoh-based racecourse.
With the vast majority of betting on Malaysian racing taking place on illegal online betting sites such as Citibet, which undermine the totaliser pools in that country as well as other places such as Singapore, management of Perak Turf Club has taken the unconventional action in an attempt to stem the leakage of turnover away from the tote.
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