PUNE RACES 2025: A STORIED TRACK, A SEASON IN TRANSITION

 

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 added a sense of urgency to every run, every entry, every training gallop. With over ₹12 crore in prize money sanctioned—thanks in large part to the generosity of elite racing patrons and some careful financial recalibration by the RWITC—the rewards are still worthy of the risks.

For punters, the challenge is steeper. Pune’s unique racing surface, coupled with its weather-induced quirks, ensures that form doesn’t always translate cleanly from other centres. A horse who ruled Mahalaxmi in March might suddenly look ordinary here. That’s what gives Pune its edge. The track is a test not only of speed, but of traction, timing, and temperament.

REBUILDING FROM WITHIN: NEW BEGINNINGS AND SAD GOODBYES

This year’s season arrives shadowed by the recent passing of two respected veterans—Shiraz Sunderji and Altaf Hussain—leaving emotional and professional voids in the RWITC paddock. In their wake, however, arrive fresh energies. James McKeown, having traded Chennai’s heat for Pune’s highland chill, is among the most notable of the new entrants. His decision to move base signals renewed belief in the centre’s potential.

Adding firepower to the equation is Bangalore’s Prasanna Kumar, riding the momentum of last year’s breakout success. Whether he can replicate that form over Pune’s trickier bends remains to be seen, but his emergence is emblematic of a generational shift across Indian stables.

Meanwhile, the stalwarts are far from done. Imtiaz Sait, ever the craftsman, will continue to play the long game. Narendra Lagad, ever the sprinter specialist, will attempt to keep his Pune fortress intact—particularly over the short scampers that he has mastered like few others. Malesh Narredu brings firepower, depth, and family ambition to every race he enters. And towering over them all, as always, is Pesi Shroff.

THE SHROFF EFFECT: OCTOBER BELONGS TO PESI

Pune’s early-season rains may temporarily stall the Shroff juggernaut, but come October, expect the master trainer to unleash a barrage of impeccably tuned runners. His strategic use of Pune as a warm-up for the grand Mumbai season is well-documented. Yet, even with one eye on Mahalaxmi, Pesi rarely leaves without making a statement in Pune’s biggest contests.

With over 700 horses stabled on-site and a fresh batch of 274 two-year-olds learning their craft, the season looks set to offer both competitive depth and a glimpse into the future of Indian racing.

THE MONEY TRAIL — A SEASON BACKED BY PASSION AND PLEDGES

Despite the economic headwinds and the post-GST recalibration of the sport’s financial ecosystem, RWITC has found ways to keep the engines running. The club's recent green light to develop a new state-of-the-art clubhouse in Mumbai signals more than just infrastructural ambition—it marks a calculated push toward diversifying revenue and reducing dependence on external sponsorships. If the plan holds, it may change the club’s fiscal narrative in the next few years.

The present, however, still leans on loyal benefactors. Zavaray Poonawalla, ever the pillar of Indian racing, has reaffirmed his support. Brother Cyrus Poonawalla continues to lend weight through presence and patronage. Other stalwarts like Vijay Shirke and Khushroo Dhunjibhoy add both horsepower and heritage to the season’s fabric. Their continued belief in the sport serves as a quiet but potent answer to those who question Indian racing’s sustainability.

THE PUNE DERBY & ST LEGER: CROWNING GLORIES

The two showpiece events—the Indian St Leger on September 21 and the Pune Derby on October 12—are the season’s crown jewels. But nearly every weekend boasts at least one graded race, ensuring a sustained rhythm of high-quality competition. With the 3-year-olds now maturing into potential champions and the 4-year-olds sharpening up for autumn assaults, every run carries layered significance.

PUNE’S EDGE: WHERE FORM MEETS FATE

Racing at Pune is rarely straightforward. The tight turns, the rain-affected going, and the shorter homestretch mean that riders must think three moves ahead, and trainers must gamble with conditioning windows. It’s a venue where pure class can get bogged down by ground conditions and where tactical speed often trumps staying power.

The unpredictability isn't a bug—it’s a feature. That’s what gives Pune its flavour. It demands a different lens, one that respects nuance over numbers, instinct over algorithms.

For the betting faithful, this means thrills and heartbreak in equal measure. Pune is that rare track where a 10-to-1 shot may well trump a 2-to-1 favourite—sometimes for good reason, sometimes for no reason at all.

THE LARGER MONSOON CANVAS

As Pune kicks off, Hyderabad’s monsoon calendar roars into action almost simultaneously. Bangalore’s summer meeting stretches into early August before Mysore takes centre stage. The next three months will see some of the most action-packed, rain-splashed racing of the year. Each centre brings its own flavour—but none quite match Pune for that tightrope walk between strategy and serendipity.