03 April,2011 07:05 AM IST | | Hemal Ashar
The Royal Western India Turf Club at Mahalaxmi Racecourse is as interested in those who bet on horses as those who can tell Savoy Cabbage from Common Nappa Cabbage. On a mission to erase its elitist image, it's opening up the members-only space to fashion shows, organic markets and classical concerts. And everyone's invited
It is not yet 6 am, but the sun has already won its battle against the dark. The first yellow streaks illuminate the sky, throwing light on a sign that greets early joggers at Mumbai's Mahalaxmi racecourse. 'Walkers/Joggers - Horses have right of way' says the hand-painted sign.
The first ever concert to be held at the racecourse was by the
Symphony of India (SOI) in mid-February this year. In its 10th concert
season, SOI moved out of the confines of Jamshed Bhabha Theatre at
NCPA in an effort to reach out to new audiences. Pic/ Santosh Nagwekar
This 226-acre prime South Mumbai property is home to some of the finest equines in India -- racehorses, Amateur Riders' Club horses and polo ponies are all neighbours at Mahalaxmi's stables.
Recently though, they have had to share space with the two-legged. The racecourse, once primarily the domain of hardcore punters, is now changing its profile. The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), the club that runs racing in western India and is headquartered at Mahalaxmi racecourse, is in the mood to shed its exclusive image.
Shop for veggies: It's not unusual to see South Mumbai's elite dressed
in suits shopping for organic veggies at the Farmer's Market at the
racecourse. Pic/ Datta Kumbhar
Last week it hosted the Farmer's Market, a direct farmer-to-customer initiative that's now a hit with Mumbai's organic food lovers.
After Bandra Hindu Association's Nilgiri Garden, and Bandra-Kurla Complex, the makeshift market moved to Mahalaxmi last week, with stalls selling fresh veggies, sauces and dips, macrobiotic food, reconstituted paper (returned to its wood-like state with added gluten), and even natural mosquito repellent.
With another market scheduled today between 3 pm and 9 pm, it's one more indication that the racecourse is ready to welcome not just those who know their quinellas (that's a betting term, by the way) but even those who want to pick up fresh lettuce for a Greek Salad.
"It's good to see the space used in creative ways. But it's a public place, and care needs to be taken to ensure that a judicious mix of events are held. The organic market is a South Mumbai la-di-dah concept. It's great but it should accompany something for the common man too," says Dr Ashish Contractor, head of Department of Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation at Asian Heart Institute and a regular at the morning exercise sessions at Mahalaxmi.
Welcoming a New Year
For the first time in the Club's history, a New Year's party was held on December 31, 2010, bang in the middle of the racecourse.
RWITC members and their guests shelled out Rs 1,500 each to support the debut initiative of the Club. With this RWITC joined a slew of other city clubs that hold New Year celebrations. Their USP of course, was the gigantic space on offer with no danger of digging your elbows into the one dancing next to you.
Don't bet? just drop by for a meal: A few years ago, the racecourse
had just one restaurant to its name -- Gallops. The Club now offers
Mumbai's foodies a slew of options including Rahul and Malini Akerkar's
Tote on the Turf and AD Singh's Olive Bar & Kitchen. A few years ago,
top restaurateurs fought a bitter, well-publicised war for a catering tender
for Gallops restaurant, and spoke out about how coveted the destination
had become. The Mini Turf Club, another fairly recent Turf property, is
open to members and their guests.
Commercial and cultural initiatives also mean an additional income. But Vivek Jain, chairman, RWITC committee prefers to play down the fund generation. "Some income from the new ventures has helped us improve the infrastructure for members and guests, for track and stand maintenance, and general upkeep of the area," he says.
Music at the members' lawns
At the current racing season that kicked off in October, for the first time, the paddock, where prize ceremonies are usually held after the races, stood empty after the Derby. The action had shifted to the members' lawn right in front of the track where the stage was set for the winning jockey, owner and trainer to receive accolades.
Industrialist and derby sponsor Dr Vijay Mallya drove from the paddock to the stage in a Rolls Royce as punters peered through their binoculars in surprise. This pit facing the members' lawn was also the venue for the first ever concert by the Symphony of India (SOI) held on a Saturday night in mid-February this year. In its 10th concert season, SOI moved out of the confines of Jamshed Bhabha Theatre at the National Centre of Performing Arts in Nariman Point in an effort to reach out to new audiences.
Jain says it is an attempt to change the mindset of Mumbaikars, who believe the racecourse is an elitist members-only club. "We would like to include the city in our mission to present ourselves as a responsible, social organisation with an emphasis on environment, green spaces and charity. It's a historic, iconic landmark. Attracting a non-racing audience enhances the image of the Club, besides attracting new partners to the sport."
Paddock is home to Shaolin monks
What the racecourse is seeing in fact, is a metamorphosis with several pockets transforming into performance venues. At the McDowell Signature Indian Derby 2011 this February, the paddock became a stage for an Elvis look-alike, a bunch of stilt- walkers, a Michael Jackson clone and Shaolin monks slicing the air with their acrobatic martial arts routine.
Gawk at a martial arts routine: Shaolin monks performed a martial
arts routine at the McDowell Signature Indian Derby 2011 at the
Member's lawn in February. Pic/Shadab Khan
Maureen Wadia is sure to be smiling. The woman behind the Gladrags Mega Model Hunt made a breakthrough of sorts years ago when she held the first fashion show at the Turf club with models starting at the paddock and cat-walking all the way up to the members' lawn.
PV Shah, horse-owner and RWITC member for 40 years sees the entertainment unfolding at the paddock as one of the most striking changes he has witnessed in the Club's history. "The efforts are good as long as they don't interfere with racing. Sometimes, races get delayed due to performances. Races should start on the dot, like they do at racecourses in the UK."
But Shah welcomes the measures, especially events that are held for charity. The Hong Kong Jockey Club for instance, is a charity fund spinner. They have even gifted the city the Ocean Park, a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and animal theme park, Shah adds.
Chill at a fashion show: A model walks the ramp at a fashion show
held at the Southern Command Polo Cup hosted at the Amateur Riders'
Club on March 25. PIC/SANTOSH NAGWEKAR
Instead of sceptics scoffing at the Club that's viewing the expansion as a commercial driver, Shah hopes people view racing in a different light. "Even today, it is considered taboo. In the West, this is not so. There, a politician-horse owner is proud to announce in Parliament that his horse is competing for the day."
But the Club's best initiative as far as this 64 year-old goes is that he can now watch races live on the Club's website. That helps after a recent fracture left the Prarthana Samaj resident immobile.
All are welcome
In a bid to keep up, the Club has taken to social networking sites to announce its community initiatives. Tribe@Turf is an initiative on Facebook with the specific aim of drawing a larger community to the turf, sub divided into categories like Music@Turfu00a0 (SOI concert) Caring@Turfu00a0 (charity drives on race days for NGOs), Organic@Turf (the Farmer's Market) and Culture@Turf (Maharashtrian Festival). "It is our idea to make the turf a fun place to be at and make the Club socially responsible," says Jain.
Appeasing the BMC?
Juhu resident and punter for 45 years Shashank Ingale wonders if the aim to absorb a wider section of people is realised if high profile events, some with tickets costing thousands, are picked. "Who can afford to spend Rs 2,500 on a ticket to the SOI concert except for those who attend such concerts at the NCPA? The RWITC includes some fine gentlemen. Instead of launching initiatives to appease the BMC which is to decide on the renewal of the Club's lease in 2013, they should approach them upfront and negotiate terms and conditions."
Jain shoots down the claim, clarifying that the Club holds non-racing events only on a couple of days in the year. "There are no permanent rights. We strive to keep the open areas accessible to public at all non-racing hours -- joggers, walkers, equestrian riding, a public park, yoga etc."
u00a0
Swim, gym, socialise
A while ago, the Club launched an open-to-members gymnasium on the premises. With infrastructure and facilities growing beyond racing, there is now a waiting list of a few hundreds. Membership fees for non-dependents are Rs 10 lakh; a far cry from decades ago when the amount was Rs 1,000 or less.
The buzz is that the Club intends to expand the facilities by offering a swimming pool, and building residential rooms. Jain says the current membership stands at 7,500. "The increased visibility of the Club and sport is drawing greater interest. Subject to approvals we could add sporting facilities. Compared to other clubs, our membership fee is not high."
At a time when most South Mumbai clubs have closed doors to new members, and membership at an elite SoBo club could cost you as much as Rs 20 lakh, RWITC's rates are competitive.
And for those gawking at Rs 10 lakh being termed 'competitive', there's always the Rs 50 a kilo organic cauliflower waiting to be picked up.
7 facts about Mahalaxmi Racecourse
>>Modelled on the Melbourne Race Course.
>>Built in 1883 on 225 acres of land facing the sea, originally donated by Sir Cusrow N Wadia. Now on perpetual lease from the MCGM.
>>Length of the race track: 2,400 metres.
>>Racing season from November to April.
>>Home to the 5 Indian Classics (Indian Derby on the first Sunday of February)
>>Highlights: 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, Oaks, Derby, St Leger, and Poonawalla Multimillion.
>Grandstand is now designated a heritage structure.
Changes at au00a0glance
>>Farmer's Market houses several stalls selling organic foods; open to all.
>>Night Symphony Orchestra makes its debut.u00a0
>>2011 New Year party held in the middle of the ground.
>>Club constructs more air-conditioned boxes in the stand.u00a0
>>New gymnasium for members near the Mini Turf Club.
>>A new community called Culture@Turf launched. Club expects to hold a Maharashtrian cultural festival this month, offering food, dance and music. Cynics see it as an attempt to appease the BMC on whose land the racecourse stands. Club authorities say it is part of several initiatives planned for the year.
>The Derby presentation area shifted to front of members' stand instead of paddock.
