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High End Awards Ceremony a Fitting Finale to the Mumbai Racing Season 2013-14 - By Vivek Jain

Posted on - 25 Apr 2014

High End Awards Ceremony a Fitting Finale to the Mumbai Racing Season 2013-14

By Vivek Jain

The power packed 43 day Mumbai Racing Season, draws to a close on the weekend, and thankfully at that, as the weather has been bordering on the oppressive.

When the last race is run on Sunday evening, 374 races would have been run (373 last year) over five and a half months of exhilarating sport, with unmatched thrills and frills, and inspite of a few controversies, racing was the clear winner with a multitude of top class events and the emergence of new champions.

The prize money pay out of Rs 26.13 crore is the highest for a single season of racing, and up from the 22.94 crore paid for the 2012-13. The attendance is up, albeit by a few percentage points, which is not bad as increasing leisure options compete for racing viewership. And the betting has been flat, and will show growth only when and if, the Government reduces taxes.

The Tata Housing Western India Turf Championship Awards will be the fitting finale to a grand season. The shift of the venue to the luxurious Ball Room of the Palladium, and the black tie dress code is to give the night a touch of class, accompanied by Chandon wines and champagne. The House of Tatas has taken a huge step forward to partner us for yet another high profile event, on the heels of their sponsorship of the 130^th Anniversary Race Day- a tribute to their confidence in the RWITC.

The points formula was interesting and developed by Mohit Lalvani, who knows enough about Indian racing to have honed it to be equitable and fair, The year 2012-13 may confuse some, but is the last completed racing year (which runs November 1- October 31 each year) and was the only relevant basis for an annual award. Next year, we would endeavour to bring forward the Awards to December or January. And in a further unique twist, a 11 member jury comprising the governance bodies of the Club, the Stud Book, Officials, Owners, Trainers and Media cast secret ballots to choose from this short list and the winners will be announced, Oscar style at the Awards night, with the “envelope” being opened on stage for each category!

The entertainment quotient will be high. The piece de resistance will be a spectacular performance by the differently abled children of the NGO TheAbility Unlimited Foundation, and as our evening is dedicated to them, it keeps the Club’s CSR flag flying mightily. And for some more we have the redoubtable Ash Chandler in a hugely entertaining comic cum singing act that is sure to shake a few pillars of the elegant Palladium. And AV’s of the 130 years, the seasons gone by and of our partners will be played before guests partake in the haute cuisine on the terrace garden of level 9, as curtains get drawn on a truly excellent season for the Club.

Some of the season’s highlights:

A Kick off with the Indian Cancer Society race day;
The Indo German Oktoberfest and Christmas Carnival;
The Zoroastrian Race day with record Millions;
The Mid Day Trophy with the superstar Kareena Kapoor Khan as our guest;
The sell out McDowell Signature Indian Derby Weekend;
The Jain family’s association with Passages and charity sale of amazing horse heads;
The launch of The Green Circle Foundation at the hands of Dr.Abdullah and Dr.Pachauri
The 25^th running of the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi Million;
Maureen Wadia’s ever so glamorous C.N.Wadia Gold Cup Day;
The ladies of Mumbai support The Sahachari Design One Exhibition at the races;
The 130^th Anniversary of Mahalakshmi Race Course Dinner and Race Day;
Days dedicated to G2, Hello!, Mid Day, Forbes India
The launch of Horsepower The Gymnasium with a range of new activities
Several Charity Associations
The season ending Tata Housing Western India Turf Championship Awards
Run! RWITC Run! The first micro mini Marathon Fun Run to be held on May 1