MAHINDAR SINGH RATHORE

  PUNE RACES 2025: A STORIED TRACK, A SEASON IN TRANSITION There’s a certain magic to Pune in the monsoon. The red-soiled track at the base of the Western Ghats awakens from its summer slumber, the wind carries the scent of turf and tension, and once again, the racing faithful gather under cloudy skies for a season that’s short, sharp, and stacked with promise. The Pune Racing Season 2025 bursts onto the scene this Friday with an opening-day card of nine races, heralding what promises to be an intense, 20-day gallop through the heart of Indian monsoon racing. Gone are the days when Pune’s calendar sprawled luxuriously across 30+ race days—those pre-Covid heydays when punters, professionals, and patrons alike could afford to take the long view. The world has since changed, and so has Indian racing. A LEANER, MEANER SEASON — BUT NO LESS RICH IN STORYLINES The 20-day format might feel like a compressed affair, but it is anything but diluted. On the contrary, the shorter season has...

Madras Race Course Faces Closure: A Legacy at Risk in the Name of Green Development By TURF TRACKER The Madras Race Course, a landmark steeped in history and prestige, now finds itself staring down an uncertain future. The Tamil Nadu state government’s recent proposal to repurpose this iconic space into an eco-park has sparked deep concern among those whose lives, livelihoods, and legacies are entwined with the racecourse’s century-old traditions. A Legacy Rooted in the City’s Soul Established in 1837, the Madras Race Course is more than just a strip of turf—it’s a living chronicle of Chennai’s sporting and cultural heritage. It has been home to generations of jockeys, trainers, grooms, veterinarians, farriers, administrative staff, bookmakers, and stewards. For them, this is not merely a workplace—it is a vibrant ecosystem that sustains thousands of families. This heritage is now under threat of extinction. The proposed conversion of the racecourse land into an eco-park—though commend...

  SAVING INDIAN RACING FROM COLLAPSE: A WAKE-UP CALL FROM HYDERABAD Once revered as the Sport of Kings and a vibrant weekend institution, horse racing in India is now at a crossroads. What was once a celebrated blend of athletic excellence and regulated betting has been pushed to the brink — crippled by punitive taxation and overshadowed by a sprawling, unregulated underground betting economy. At the heart of this crisis lies the Hyderabad Race Club, a microcosm of the national trend. In just seven years, official totalisator collections have plunged from ₹1,217 crore in 2016–17 to a dismal ₹141 crore in 2024–25 — a staggering 90% decline . And this freefall is not due to waning public interest. Quite the contrary — racegoers still throng to the tracks. What has changed is where and how they place their bets. The root of this collapse is the 28% GST levied not just on winnings, but on every rupee wagered . This has made legal betting untenable for most punters, driving them ...

PUNTERS DRUBBED, SCRIPTED RACING TO THE FORE — by Mahindar Singh Rathore | Turf Tracker The Bangalore Summer Season: A Pale Imitation of Its Glorious Past The Bangalore Summer Season , once a proud stage for thrilling finishes and high-stakes competition, has slipped into a dull routine. The energy is gone, replaced by flat, scripted racing that has punters grumbling and racing fans longing for yesteryears. Gone are the titanic battles down the final furlong. In their place, we have monotonous gallops where winners coast home unchallenged, and the betting ring tells stories that defy both form and logic. FORM IS FICTION, LOGIC IS LOST In race after race, modest horses attract massive support , while proven contenders drift aimlessly in the market. The punter, once able to navigate the card with a sharp eye and instincts, now feels adrift—caught in a game where the script seems pre-written. The ‘favourite-following’ formula has collapsed . Betting boards are more confusing tha...

  “The League of Shame” – The Rot Beneath the Turf A Voice for the Voiceless in Indian Racing In the glitzy grandstands of Indian racing, where champagne toasts meet roaring crowds and betting terminals light up like slot machines, a darker tale unfolds far from the public eye — one of neglect, greed, and systemic cruelty. This is the story of the HPS League, a sordid subchapter of the sport that has long since abandoned its soul for the promise of profit. Behind the carefully curated façade of sport, tradition, and spectacle, the very heart of racing — the horse — suffers in silence. Once-proud thoroughbreds, who danced effortlessly across turf and sand, are reduced to shadows of themselves. When the money dries up or the legs give way, there is no refuge. These noble animals, who gave their all for glory and gain, are discarded like worn-out betting slips. The Hyderabad Race Club, among others, stands accused not just of indifference, but of complicity. Under their watch, a s...

  🏇 Scripted Racing in India: The Invisible Hand That’s Derailing the Sport By Mahindar Singh Rathore (Turf Tracker) Chief Editor – www.INHorseracing.com 📉 The Integrity Crisis in Indian Racing Indian horse racing is facing a dangerous reality—one that threatens to destroy its credibility from the inside out. Races appear increasingly scripted , where outcomes are determined long before the gates open. Punters are losing faith, professionals are whispering, and insiders know more than they’re saying. What once was a noble sport is slowly being turned into a stage-managed performance. It's time to expose and examine the growing cancer of scripted racing in India . 🎭 What Is Scripted Racing? Scripted racing refers to the pre-determined manipulation of race results , where the outcome is orchestrated by vested interests. These “scripts” are executed by a network of owners, trainers, jockeys—and sometimes, insiders within turf authorities. The goal? To control betting f...