3 minute read
Racegoers knew that My Boss was trainer Young Keah Yong’s sole runner last Sunday, but not many knew that he was also Young’s last runner in six years of training in Singapore.
The rather low-key Singaporean, who began involved in horse racing 12 years ago after he joined ex-Kranji trainer Charles Leck as a syce, worked his way up the ladder before he was granted a trainer's licence in July 2017.
Like most in the industry, it was the burning passion in Young that steered him towards the trainer's pathway, but he knew too that passion alone was not enough to be successful.
Much as he tried, there was still a lack of support from owners and the numbers in his yard soon began to dwindle. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic also compounded matters, hence his decision to call it quits.
"I'm very thankful for the chance the Singapore Turf Club gave me to fulfil my dream," said the 45-year-old conditioner to The Straits Times.
"I've wanted to be a trainer since I was a teenager. I'm very appreciative for my seven years as a trainer.
"I'd like to thank the Club, my family, staff, jockey Benny Woodworth, (owner) Mr Wong Wei Choy from Kuala Lumpur for all their support.
"I also thank my other owners. Their horses are going to Mahadi Taib, whom they know already.
"I've been trying very hard to keep it going because I love this game. It's my passion.
"But in the last two years, I've been struggling. After discussing with my family, I was left with no other choice but to call it a day.
"It was hard to get owners. I used to have 50 horses on my books, like in 2018. After Covid-19, many owners gave up.
"Owners used to come to me, but now we have to beg them. I, for one, don't like to beg owners. Also, the drop to one race day a week has also made it harder for us.
"For a trainer to sustain, he has to make a lot of sacrifices and shoulder the burden. At the end of the day, racing is like any business.
"But it hasn't been a feasible business model in the last two years. It wasn't worth putting in that kind of effort anymore."
Young was busy vacating his stable block earlier this week and most of his remaining 10-odd gallopers have been transferred to other trainers like Taib, David Kok, Jerome Tan and Jason Ong.
Though Young had no world-class runners in his yard, he still enjoyed his best season at his second year of training in 2018 where he bagged 35 wins and sat 12th on the trainers' log.
All-up, he bowed out on 98 wins from 1489 runners. Yet the good news is, even as Young's training chapter comes to a close, he will be sticking around in another capacity.
"I'll apply for a B-trainer's licence and join Jerome. He is expanding his stable and I will look more into the marketing and PR side of the business," he said.
"Meanwhile, I am also invested in my brother's food trading business.
"I know I was on 98 winners. I did think I would wait until I get 100 winners before I stop. But, at the end of the day, it's a business. I couldn't wait any longer, it was time to go."
"Who knows, things can improve one day and I may come back – and go for the 100th win then."
