Longines Singapore Gold Cup raises over $370,000 for the Community Chest

SINGAPORE - Luxury Swiss timepiece maker Longines hosted a charity luncheon in conjunction with the Longines Singapore Gold Cup at the Singapore Turf Club, where a silent auction raised $374,483 for local charity arm Community Chest.

Guest-of-honour, SR Nathan, former president of Singapore, graced the event together with guests who saw items such as a limited edition La Grande Classique de Longines watch and a watercolour painting by Cultural Medallion artist, Ong Kim Seng, being bid at the silent auction to raise funds for the Community Chest, which supports 83 charitable orgasanisations.

During the Longines Singapore Gold Cup race held on Nov 17, Horse 10, Tropaios, was first to cross the finishing line and won the $1.35 million prize. To recognise their merits, Longines timepieces from the Conquest Classic Collection were also awarded to the winning jockey, Tommy Berry, his trainer, Michael Freedman and owner, the China Horse Club.

This prestigious racing event marks a renewal of partnership between Longines and Singapore Turf Club. This is the fourth edition of the luxury Swiss watch makers Longines designating the Singapore Gold Cup Day as an annual Charity Race Day since they took on the title sponsorship in 2010.

Mr Juan-Carlos Capelli, vice-president of Longines and head of international marketing said that "this event and the charity activities connected with it are totally in line with our core values of tradition, elegance and performance'.

As a tribute to the chronographs produced from 1881 for race-goers and jockeys in New York, Longines recently launched the timeless Conquest Classic series in Singapore. The time pieces feature a self-winding calibres and exudes the brand's values of elegance, tradition and performance.

More information on the Singapore Turf Club can be found here.

wjeanne@sph.com.sg