Statement by VIVEK JAIN, Chairman, RWITC on the commencement of the Mumbai Racing Season 2012-2013
Posted on - 17 Nov 2012
The 43 day Mumbai Season, spanning five and a half months, and looked upon as the jewel of all racing seasons in India, is in all readiness to “gallop” off the blocks!
The highlights:
PRIZE MONEY
The advertised prize money, including trophies, is about 16.3 crores, which is about 1 crore higher than the last season. However, after adding performance bonus, sweepstakes and the extra payout for divided races, the actual disbursement will cross Rs 21 crore, making the payout the highest at a single season, anywhere in the country.
SPONSORSHIPS
The Club maintains its leadership position in attracting record sponsorships and alliances, and the season ahead will be no exception. Contributions will cross Rs 7.5 crore, and each weekend of racing over the five and a half month season will feature a sponsored race. Several weekends have the entire day sponsored. In addition to the prize money, the bigger days are promoted as carnivals of leisure, entertainment and prizes, adding to the lure of the day.
McDOWELL SIGNATURE PREMIER INDIAN DERBY
The Indian Derby Weekend, the biggest in Indian Racing, enters a fresh five year cycle with The UB Group, who celebrated 25 years of continous sponsorship a few seasons ago. The race, this year should nudge the 3 crore mark in prize money, making it one of the richest sporting events in the country, and promoted with pomp and splendour by United Spirits and the RWITC.
THE RACING PROGRAM
As always, the racing program is replete with top quality races, five Grade 1 races and full of millions and multi millions across all age groups. As many as twelve races for the new crop will carry a minimum purse of 1 million or more, a new record. And for the older horses, outside the Indian classics, there will be eleven millions/ multi millions, which makes the Mumbai Season the most star studded in the country.
THE OWNERS
The Club has been sensitive to the hardship of owners and has increased stake money/ incentives, inspite of the financial constraints. Stakes have been enhanced across the board in each class, and the performance bonus of 25% has been retained. In addition, the service tax liability on stakes will be reimbursed by the Club and the per month maintenance cost subsidy of Rs 1,000 per month per horse has been extended. The cumulative monetary benefit is about 10 crores in a full year to the owners.
ALLIANCES
The Club has always viewed the media and the hospitality industry as its partners in promotion of the sport. Hence, in the media space, partnerships with Bennett Coleman (The Times of India group), Mid Day, Forbes, Hello!, G2 will give the Club visibility and hospitality tie ups with The Four Seasons and Umame-Amadeus, and with Oris, a new time partner will bring a range of prizes and offerings through the season. Kyazoonga is our partner for on line booking of tickets for race days and events. Races have been named in recognition of these partnerships.
RWITC was the first in the country to innovate with live streaming of the entire race card, and new features are being added to bring a new look to this experience as well as a revamped home page of the Club’s very popular web site. In addition, mobile application for all categories of smart phones will soon be introduced.
HOOF PRINT
The Club introduced Hoof Print, an electronic e mailer last year, to keep members updated on weekly features, with images and information, This has been very popular with the fraternity, and a new look is proposed to be given with more features to be added. It is important members update their e mail id’s with the Club secretariat in order to receive the e mailer regularly.
MEMBERS EVENTS
Last year, under the Tribe@Turf banner, the Club introduced several events for the benefit of members, including music, culture, sport and environment. This will be showcased at regular intervals with the objective to make our venue more inclusive and “city centric”, outside our racing days.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The Club has made corporate social responsibility a focus area, and last year associated with several NGOs both on race days and other events, to help a range of noble causes. The Mumbai Season kicks off in partnership with The Indian Cancer Society, which is a great way to start the season. We hosted, with the Madhu Mehta Foundation, a Diwali party for over 1,000 underprivelged children last week. Direct and indirect associations with charity as the end objective, will gain in prominence over the season.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Though the RWITC has a presence on Facebook and Twitter, its progress has been sedate. We are likely to engage a professional firm to assist us in totally revamping our Facebookpage, to give it a real zing and push. We hope to activate this shortly.
MEMORIAL RACES
We wish to pay homage to those members who passed away and were contributors to the sport, as owners, breeders or trainers. We continue the Dr Jagjit Singh Tribute Million,perhaps the only Million in the country reserved for “small owners”, and will run The Gracias Saldhana Memorial Million, sponsored by the wife of a long standing member. The families of P.M.Rungta, Yawar Rashid and Sonny Brar, each with decades of association with the sport, will contribute a trophy in their memory for the first time.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The Club has taken pains to spruce up the infrastructure for the racegoer as well as equine. A brand new, top of the line jockeys’ room will be operational from the opening day. A new bund school has been created near the swimming pool, which will be a boon for trainers. Certain stables have been renovated, as the first phase of a long term plan. The Club is examining proposals for a complete revamp of its PA system, and in the second phase a move towards Hi Def- Digital Video, if costs permit.
The stage is set for yet another competitive season of great sport and entertainment.
