Mumbai Season to start off with Race of Hope - By Vivek Jain I TOI
Posted on - 15 Nov 2013
Mumbai Season to start off with Race of Hope
By Vivek Jain
TOI
The 43 day Mumbai racing season, with quite easily the best racing in the country, gets under starters orders with the appropriately named Race of Hope, in aid of The Indian Cancer Society this Sunday.
It is a season of hope, where the Club has elaborate plans to offer a power packed program, replete with quality, and the association with a leading NGO as our opener is in keeping with our endeavour to encompass corporate social responsibility causes with an increased focus.
The advertised stake money of Rs 20 crore will be a new high, though the actual disbursement will be still much higher. The Indian classics, all sponsored, will hold centre stage, with the McDowell Signature Indian Derby, with prize money in excess of 3 crore, the jewel of the star studded crown.
Virtually every weekend from the start to early April will feature a sponsored race, cementing RWITC’s undisputed position as the runaway leader all-India in the promotion of the sport with record contributions of about 8 crore.
The popular millions and multi millions also reach a new landmark with as many as 29 such races, outside the Grade 1 races. This caters to every age group and every class.
A unique day in the history of Indian racing has been drawn up for the last Sunday of December. Being run to mark the Zoroastrian Congress, the Parsi Punchayet race day to honour an illustrious community of the city, will feature as many as seven million races in one afternoon, making it truly a red letter day. And we hope to add a special touch with a Parsi spread and a traditional dress code to add added flavour.
Another momentous landmark will be the celebration of the 130th Anniversary of Mahalaxmi race course. There will be a build up to this as the season progresses, culminating in a multi million race at the end of March, backed by the Tata Group, with heritage and history coming together in a rare amalgam.
While racing and the equines will be the stars, expect a whole range of events on both racing and non racing days. The launch of the RWITC Foundation, with a soon to be christened name to envelop the Club’s CSR focus will be a new initiative.
RWITC.TV will be our second web site to focus on lifestyle, events and live streaming, and a Food Court offering coffees, sandwiches, pizza, ice cream, wine and beer, will make race afternoons a delectable treat!
So, the Mumbai season is ready to gallop off the blocks in fine fashion! Rub shoulders with the crème de la crème, and Bollywood stars every other day. It is a season like no other, so saddle up for an exhilarating ride.
