Journalism of Courage
Premium
This is an archive article published on January 8, 2009
Mumbai racing to start on Jan 31
Its official now. The Mumbai horse racing season will start on January 31. The managing committee of the Royal Western India Turf Club which met at the race course on Tuesday evening,decided to give the go ahead.
It’s official now. The Mumbai horse racing season will start on January 31. The managing committee of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) which met at the race course on Tuesday evening,decided to give the go ahead.
“Though we are yet to receive the official communication from the state Animal Husbandry Department with regards to the movement of horses from Pune and the conduct of racing,we are very confident of getting it soon and therefore we have agreed in principle to start the Mumbai season from January 31,” informed Vivek Jain,chairman of the stewards of the club.
Jain informed that at the start,there would be two days of racing on January 31 and February 1.
“That is if we receive entries for these days,but if we don’t get them,then the racing might start from February 5 onwards,” said Jain.
The horse owners have welcomed the decision. “It’s great news that they have finally decided to start racing,” said Jeffrey Nagpal,who is the president of the Western India Race Horse Owners Association (WIRHOA).
“When racing activity has already started in centres like Kolkata and Delhi,which were also affected,there is no reason we should wait,” stated Nagpal.
“We had in fact suggested to the committee to have a small programme for first two days,” he said.
Story continues below this ad
“We can start it on a low-key note by having races over 1,000 and 1,200 metres first. A race for juvenile horses should also be planned,” informed Nagpal.
However,the movement of horses would only start after they received government notification to that effect. “We know that the government has cleared the issue,but we are yet to receive the latest order officially. We,therefore,don’t want to contravene the order,” stated Nagpal.
Advertisement
Loading Recommendations...
Live Blog