Kyaikkasan Race Course
| Location | South Race Course Road, Yangon, Myanmar |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 16°47′25″N 96°10′44″E / 16.7902°N 96.1789°E |
| Owned by | Government of Myanmar |
| Date opened | 1926 |
| Date closed | 1996 (racing ceased) |
| Course type | Flat |
| Notable races | Colonial-era turf meets (1887–1941) |
The Kyaikkasan Race Course (Burmese: ကျိုက္ကစံမြင်းပြိုင်ပွဲကွင်း) is a 147-acre (59 ha) historic former horse racing venue located on South Race Course Road in Tamwe Township, Yangon, Myanmar. Originally established as the Rangoon Turf Club, the racecourse was a major colonial-era institution and one of the few racially inclusive social clubs of its time.
History
[edit]The Rangoon Turf Club was founded in 1887, with its original racecourse located in the Maidan area of Rangoon (now Yangon).[1] In 1926, the club moved to newly built facilities at the present Kyaikkasan site.[1] Although created during British colonial rule, the club was notably open to non-Europeans of high social standing, including the prominent Chinese-Burmese tycoon Lim Chin Tsong, who served as chairman for a time.[1] Horse racing was a popular pastime in Rangoon during the colonial period.[1] Races were held almost every fortnight.[1]
Post-independence era
[edit]After independence and particularly following the 1962 Burmese coup d'état, the racecourse saw a gradual decline in sporting use.[1] Instead, the expansive grounds were repurposed for state rallies and official events, such as Union Day, Peasant Day, and May Day celebrations.[1]
In 1974, the venue gained national attention when the coffin of former UN Secretary-General U Thant was placed at Kyaikkasan for a restricted public viewing.[1] Student protests erupted over the government's refusal to honor U Thant with an official ceremony.[1] Protesters stormed the racecourse, seized the coffin, and carried it to Rangoon University, sparking a series of demonstrations and a brutal crackdown by authorities.[1]
Decline
[edit]By the 1990s, horse racing in Yangon had effectively ceased.[1] The Yangon Riding Club, the last active racing body, relocated to Dagon Township in 1996.[1] Since then, the racecourse grounds have been partially repurposed for student housing, sports facilities, and unofficial residential use.[1] Some of the lower sections of the stadium—known locally as the "catacombs"—are now inhabited by local families.[1]
In 1996, the Institute of Sports and Physical Education was established at the site.[2] The compound is used as a training ground for children practising various sports.[2]
In 2015, state-run newspapers announced plans to develop a large-scale commercial business complex, including the upgrade of the existing Sports Science building, at the racetrack grounds.[3] Yangon Region Hluttaw representatives were unable to halt the development.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Kyaikkasan Race Course". Architectural Guide: Yangon. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
- ^ a b Slow, Oliver. "Green spaces under threat". Frontier Myanmar. Archived from the original on 2018-07-04. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
- ^ a b Myat, Bone (2015-04-08). "Yangon Parliament Dismiss Objections Over Building Project at Kyaikkasan Grounds". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2025-05-18.