1786 Francis Light forms the British Settlement on Penang Island (Prince of Wales Island) in the name of the English East India Company

1805 Penang raised to the status of a British Indian Presidency under the East India Company

1819 Stamford Raffles forms the British Settlement on the island of Singapore

1826 Penang, Malacca and Singapore joined together to form the Presidency of the Straits Settlements with its capital in Penang.

1830 The Presidency of the Straits Settlement reduced to a Residency under the direct supervision of the East India Company's government at Calcutta.

1831 The capital of the Straits Settlements transferred from Penang to Singapore.

1842 Establishment of the Singapore Turf Club

1864 Establishment of the Penang Turf Club

1867 Transfer of control of the Straits Settlements from India to the Colonial Office, London. The opening of the Suez Canal.

1874 The Pangkor Engagement, by which the British recognised Raja Abdullah as Sultan of Perak and imposed a British Adviser (Resident) on him. British adviser (Resident) also imposed on Selangor.

1886 First Perak Turf Club formed in Taiping.

1896 Straits Racing Association established. Creation of the Federated Malay States (Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak and Selangor. Selangor Turf Club established in Ampang.

1921 First Penang Gold Cup

1924 First Singapore Gold Cup

1926 Perak Turf Club moves to Ipoh

1933 Singapore Turf Club moves to Bukit Timah

1939 Penang Turf Club moves to Batu Gantong. First Selangor Gold Cup

1941 December - Japan invades Malaya and Singapore.

1945 September - British forces land in Penang and Singapore. Racing resumes in Penang Turf Club with Grand Victory Meeting at Batu Gantong on 29 September.

1946 April - Singapore becomes a separate crown colony from Straits Settlements and Malay States.

1957 Birth of the Federation of Malaya.

1961 Straits Racing Association becomes Malayan Racing Association. Racing (Totalisator Board) Act - an act to provide the establishment of a Totalisator Board with the powers to conduct betting, equine research and to establish, maintain and improve Turf Clubs.

1963 Singapore, British North Borneo and Sarawak join Malaya to form the Malaysian Federation.

1965 Singapore separates from Malaysia to become a Republic.

1993 Selangor Turf Club moves to new racecourse in Sungei Besi.

1999 September - Singapore Turf Club moves to a new racecourse in Kranji. Twilight racing begins.

2000 First running of Singapore Airlines International Cup. Yang Di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup becomes first million-ringgit race in Malaysia.

2002 November - Penang Turf Club members vote to build a new ultra-modern racecourse. Yang Di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup stakes increased to RM1.3 million.

2003 September - Astro Wah Lai Toi sponsors Penang Sprint Trophy. Stakes increased to RM1 million.