Mumbai Racing Season to close with a flourish on the weekend - By Vivek Jain
Posted on - 14 Apr 2017
Mumbai Racing Season to close with a flourish on the weekend
By Vivek Jain
The 39 day Mumbai Racing Season, which kicked off five months ago, will end with a flourish this weekend, with packed fields and competitive racing, with which the curtains come down on the most eagerly awaited racing season in the country.
Despite the cutback in stakes and financial travails of the RWITC, racing was of a high order with the four Indian classics and the Poonawalla Breeders' Multi Million taking pride of place with the best in the country taking part. The absence of any foreign jockey robbed the sport of much of its glamour, which otherwise had its highs and only a few lows. The Kingfisher Ultra Indian Derby powered by Signature was obviously the show stopper, and once again the Club staged a magnificent weekend, replete with top racing (every race a Million plus) and international entertainment adding to the glitz and pomp.
That we lead the way in attracting a surfeit of sponsors and partners was once again embellished in the racing program, with virtually every weekend featuring a new menu. We had themed days around food and fashion, a Club Day and a night market, the German Christmas Fest, and several days devoted to charity. Dedicated all day cards to raise funds for the Rotary and Lions Club, associations with the Fight Hunger Foundation, the Indian Cancer Society and Sahachari Foundation to name just a few, brought the caring side of the Club in the spotlight.
On the Club's affairs there is much to talk about and our agenda is full. Some of the important issues that will confront us:
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Renewal of the lease of Mahalakshmi race course which expired in May 2013;
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Managing the impending introduction of GST which will replace betting tax to ensure the sport remains on keel;
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Solve pending disputes with two important conductors- BJR's (Gallops) and DeGustibus;
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Manage the finances of the Club to bring down the losses;
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Identify new revenue streams to shore up the depleting reserves;
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To establish evening racing on firm ground financially;
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To renew the racing license for the year 2017-18 on terms favourable to the Club;
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To ensure a ruthless cutback in costs are implemented and sustained;
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To pass resolutions covering the settlement with BJR's, the one third retirement norm and raising contribution from members;
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Ensure stewarding is kept at a high level and a tight control on maintaining the integrity of the sport;
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Maintaining rapport with our owners, trainers and bookmakers;
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Restoring or even increasing prize money payable to owners who stood by the RWITC when it was most needed;
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Renewing the Indian Derby sponsorship which concluded with this year's running;
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Resolving the litigation the Club is confronted with quickly and with the least costs;
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Reviewing the proposal from Pegasus to build a Club House on significantly diluted terms as compared to its old avatar;
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Maintaining the sponsorships of the Club and even enhancing it;
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And finally to de politicize the governance of the Club and ensure decision making is both transparent and fair.
This is an agenda that can intimidate any Chairman. However we just cannot be complacent about the goals we have set for ourselves. Our objective is to steady the ship as it sails over the choppy waters, Yes! We have done it in the past, and Yes! We shall do it again!
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