Racing to resume at Mahalaxmi racecourse

With the Maharashtra government finally clearing the way for horse racing to shift to Mahalaxmi racecourse from Pune, where it is presently being conducted, the managing committee of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) Ltd, headed by chairman Zavaray S Poonawalla, in a meeting held at the Pune racecourse on Sunday, has taken a decision to resume racing in Mumbai from Sunday, February 28.

 

It may be noted that owing to the COVID-19 pandemic situation which put restrictions on the movement of horses from Pune to Mumbai, and also because a part of the Mahalaxmi racecourse premises being used as a makeshift health facility, the Mumbai racing season 2020-21 was started at Pune racetrack on November 27 last year. So far, 103 races have been run over 13 race days, which also included the first two Classics of the season, namely, the Indian 1000 & 2000 Guineas.

 

The remaining two Classics of the Mumbai racing season--the Indian Oaks & the Indian Derby, however, will now be run at the Mahalaxmi racetrack on March 7 & 21 respectively (both Sundays). The Indian Turf Invitation Cup, which the RWITC gets to host only once in five years, is slated to be run on Sunday, April 18.