Malaysia's Perak Turf Club and Selangor Turf Club have both published race conditions stating that entry fees are inclusive of 8% Services Sales Tax (SST) as of 1 March 20241. The two clubs are among the three Malaysian turf clubs whose horses are eligible to enter races under the conditions1.
Perak's conditions state that entry fees "will be inclusive of 8% Services Sales Tax (SST) as of 1st March 2024" and must be paid by 5.00pm on the Friday before the weekend's race meeting1. The club remits RM40.00 from each entry fee to the Malayan Racing Association, retaining the remainder for administrative expenses1. Perak does not publish a fixed entry fee figure in the conditions reviewed.
Selangor gives a worked example: the entry fee is RM210, and "the total payable amount is RM210 + RM16.80 (8%SST) = RM226.80"2. For outstation horses, Selangor charges an entry fee of 7% of the base prize money plus 8% SST for all feature and non-feature races except the Triple Crown series2. Both clubs charge RM50.00 plus 8% SST when a trainer uses the club colors in a race meeting1.
"The Entry Fees will be inclusive of 8% Services Sales Tax (SST) as of 1st March 2024"
Other fees in the conditions are separate from the entry fee. Both clubs charge a trainer RM100.00 for a trainer scratching, and both refund entry fees less RM50.00 for administrative expenses when a horse is withdrawn by order of the racing stewards or veterinary surgeons1. Selangor adds a penalty of RM500 per horse where entry fees are forfeited for scratching without a listed reason2. Perak's conditions do not state that RM500 penalty1.
| Item | Perak Turf Club | Selangor Turf Club |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | Not stated in conditions; inclusive of 8% SST from 1 March 20241 | RM210 plus RM16.80 SST = RM226.802 |
| Outstation horses | Not stated1 | 7% of base prize money plus 8% SST, except Triple Crown series2 |
| Trainer scratching | RM100.001 | RM100.002 |
| Refund on stewards' or veterinary withdrawal | Entry fees less RM50.001 | Entry fees less RM50.002 |
| Club colors | RM50.00 plus 8% SST1 | RM50.00 plus 8% SST2 |
What it means for players
The SST applies to what owners and trainers pay to enter a horse, not to bets placed by punters. Neither club's conditions state any change to totalisator investment or to the takeout on bets1. Perak's conditions say all totalisator investment is deemed made under the rules of the Totalisator Board, which are available for inspection on request1. Selangor's conditions carry the same wording2.
For anyone betting on Malaysian racing, the practical effect described in these documents is on the cost side of running a horse, which can influence field sizes and how often horses are entered. Both clubs limit field size to 14 runners with 3 emergency acceptors unless otherwise specified, and both reduce entries by ballot when entries are excessive1. Emergency acceptors are withdrawn if there are no vacancies at 9am on the day of the first race1.
What happens next
Both sets of conditions are published as standing documents rather than dated announcements. Perak's conditions are marked as of February 20241; Selangor's are marked as of January 20252. No further SST rate change or implementation date beyond 1 March 2024 is stated in either document1. The conditions for the third Malaysian turf club are not covered in these documents.
For more on how Malaysian racing and betting are structured, see Horse Racing and Betting in Asia: Racecourses, Pari-Mutuel Pools, Bet Types and Where You Can Bet and Can I Gamble in Malaysia?.
Sources2 sources
- Race Conditions - Perak Turf Club, perakturfclub.my
- Race Conditions | Selangor Turf Club, selangorturfclub.com
