Pune racing gets clearance

This picture has been used for representational purposes

Race lovers in western India can finally heave a sigh of relief. The Pune racing season, which has already been delayed by two months due to apprehension of the third wave of COVID-19, is likely to begin soon.

The news was shared on Tuesday by Zavaray Poonawalla, chairman of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), in a letter to his colleagues on the race club committee.

"The permission has been cleared by the chief minister," says the letter, a copy of which is in mid-day's possession. The turnaround in the stance of the state government came about after deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, whom Zavaray Poonawalla had met earlier this month, personally phoned chief minister Uddhav Thackerey and made the recommendation, the letter goes on to explain.

The race club has already put all systems in place, so racing can begin as soon as the official communication from the government is received by the race club.

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