04 May,2009 08:40 AM IST | | Vivek Jain
THE 28-day Mumbai race season, which started late and amidst tremendous uncertainty, signed off in style with three days of racing culminating as the grand finale of what has been a spectacular season. The prophets of doom had written off the season by questioning the continuation of sponsorships, the closeness of the big races, the health of the horses and the wisdom of running the Indian Derby in mid April. The doomsayers were proved wrong on every front.
The Royal Western India Turf Club had a season packed with sponsors on every weekend who collectively contributed in the vicinity of 4 crore an all-time record, even higher than what has been achieved for a full season. The attendance crossed over 200,000 and up 10 per cent which was creditable as the prime months of racing were lost to the influenza. And the cash registers kept jingling, as betting surged 15 per cent on the strength of very competitive racing.
The Derby not only reached a new benchmark in prize money way ahead of any other race ever held in India, but also saw a turnout in excess of 25,000 matching last year's numbers, in spite of the torrid and unusually hot April afternoon.
The RWITC kept up the pace in signing each of its race days with a distinctive theme, from contests that won race-goers a free ride in a private jet to winning a Mercedes car and entertainment that encompassed fashion, dancing, food and more.
Very few sports in India and certainly no other club in India has taken such a giant leap in branding its events with such flair and razzmatazz where the sport can be enjoyed and the casual visitor be entertained.
The success of these efforts are showing in the attendance and betting numbers. Thoroughbred racing itself was an a roll with packed cards and a plethora of big ticket events. The best horses in India were on parade as also a widely represented international riding talent. And finally, the hugely surprising win of underdog Antonios at the expense of the giant-killing Set Alight had a fairy tale tinge to it, with a shock ending... but that's the thrill of the sport!
