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
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
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
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
- ^ 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.