THE SILENT EXTINCTION OF A SPORT OF KINGS

 

THE SILENT EXTINCTION OF A SPORT OF KINGS

There was a time when the thunder of hooves echoed across the heart of India’s great cities… when racecourses were not just patches of green, but living, breathing institutions—symbols of heritage, employment, and sporting excellence.

Today, that sound is fading.

Not because the sport has lost its soul… but because it is being slowly strangled.

Across India, one racecourse after another is either being shut down, relocated, or threatened under the weight of “development,” taxation, and political indifference. The writing is on the wall—and it is written in silence.

The historic Royal Calcutta Turf Club, once the epicentre of Indian racing since 1847, now stands as a reminder of what we were.
The iconic Mahalaxmi Racecourse, spread across prime land in Mumbai, is constantly under pressure—its very existence debated between heritage and real estate ambition.

And then comes the heartbreaking reality…

The Ooty Racecourse, a jewel of summer racing, has effectively been taken away—its land reclaimed to build an eco-park, burying over a century of racing history beneath landscaping plans.

In Bengaluru, after decades of resistance, even the racecourse has been forced to move out of the city’s heart—another symbolic retreat of the sport from public life.

This is not coincidence.

This is a pattern.

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WHY ARE GOVERNMENTS TURNING AWAY?

The reasons are layered—but none justify the scale of damage being done:

1. Prime Land, Political Temptation

Racecourses sit on vast, priceless urban land. To governments, they are no longer sporting arenas—they are “opportunities.”

Parks, commercial hubs, infrastructure projects—everything is considered… except preserving the sport.

2. Taxation That Crippled the Industry

The imposition of GST has devastated the financial backbone of racing. Revenues have collapsed, and legal betting has been pushed underground.

A sport that once sustained itself is now gasping for survival.

3. Narrative Warfare

Animal rights activism, selective outrage, and isolated incidents are being amplified to paint racing as cruel—while ignoring the livelihoods it supports and the care given to thoroughbreds.

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THE REAL CASUALTIES: THE INVISIBLE THOUSANDS

This is not just about horses or clubs.

This is about people.

Thousands of grooms…
Riders…
Farriers…
Veterinary staff…
Stable workers…
Small owners…
Punters who live day-to-day on this ecosystem…

At the Mahalaxmi Racecourse alone, over 5,000 people depend on racing for survival.

Now multiply that across India.

What happens to them when a racecourse shuts?

Where do they go?

Who answers that question?

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THE POONAWALLA STRONGHOLD—A TEMPORARY SHIELD

Yes, the Poonawalla-led Royal Western India Turf Club has ensured that Mumbai and Pune continue to breathe—for now.

The Pune Race Course still hosts its cherished season…
The Mahalaxmi Racecourse still stages the prestigious Indian Derby…

But for how long?

Even here, proposals of parks, underground complexes, and “public spaces” hover like dark clouds.

Protection today does not guarantee survival tomorrow.

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WHO WILL SAVE THE REST?

That is the most painful question of all.

Who will stand up for:

• Hyderabad, where revenues have collapsed
• Chennai, battling legal and political storms
• Kolkata, struggling to retain relevance
• Smaller centres that are already fading into oblivion

There is no unified voice.

No national policy.

No strong resistance.

And that is why the sport is losing—not on the track, but outside it.

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A SPORT DYING IN SILENCE

Horse racing in India is not being killed overnight.

It is being erased… slowly… deliberately… piece by piece.

First, taxation.

Then restrictions.

Then land disputes.

Then closures.

And finally… silence.

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A FINAL APPEAL

This is not just about nostalgia.

This is about survival.

If racing disappears, it will not just take away a sport—it will wipe out an entire ecosystem, a culture, and a livelihood network built over generations.

The tragedy is not that governments are acting.

The tragedy is that no one is fighting back hard enough.

Because once the last racecourse falls…
there will be no second chance.

Only memories of hooves… fading into history.

FOR HORSE RACING – WEATHER IS PERMISSIBLE FOR APRIL RACING IN BANGALORE

FOR HORSE RACING – WEATHER IS PERMISSIBLE FOR APRIL RACING IN BANGALORE

With the disruption caused by the recent outbreak of Glanders and the consequent suspension of racing activity, the industry now stands at a crucial juncture. If all regulatory hurdles are cleared and the required NOCs are obtained, there is a strong and practical case for resuming racing in Bangalore in April. The prevailing weather conditions, historical precedent, and the urgent financial realities facing stakeholders collectively support this course of action.

April Weather in Bangalore – Comparatively Favourable

April in Bangalore has traditionally been more temperate than in other major racing centres of the country. Compared with Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad, Bangalore’s elevation ensures relatively milder daytime temperatures and cooler evenings. This climatic advantage has long made the city one of India’s most horse-friendly racing environments, even in the summer transition period.

It is also pertinent to note that both Mumbai and Delhi routinely conduct race meetings through April every year. This establishes a clear precedent within Indian racing that April conditions, though warm, remain operationally viable for the sport when appropriate care and scheduling are followed.

Pre-Monsoon Showers – A Familiar Factor

Another commonly raised concern is the possibility of pre-monsoon showers. However, such intermittent rains in and around Bangalore are neither unusual nor prohibitive. Historically, the racing authorities and track management have successfully handled similar conditions. The turf at the Bangalore Turf Club has repeatedly demonstrated resilience, with drainage and track preparation practices refined over decades of racing during transitional weather periods.

Thus, occasional showers should be viewed as a manageable operational variable rather than a deterrent to commencing the season.

Financial Survival of Stakeholders

Beyond climatology and logistics lies a far more pressing reality: survival. The suspension of racing has meant that owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff, breeders and allied service providers have endured nearly six months without stake money inflow. In a sport whose economic cycle depends heavily on prize money distribution, such a prolonged interruption is profoundly damaging.

Training, feeding, veterinary care and stable maintenance costs continue irrespective of racing stoppages. Without the resumption of stakes, many participants face mounting losses, erosion of horse populations, and potential exit from the sport. The longer the inactivity persists, the greater the structural damage to the racing ecosystem.

A Question of Mindset and Collective Will

If regulatory clearance is granted post-Glanders containment, the decision to resume racing in April will ultimately depend on a constructive and pragmatic mindset among all concerned authorities and stakeholders. The situation calls for flexibility, coordination and recognition of ground realities rather than excessive caution that may unintentionally deepen the crisis.

Indian racing has historically adapted to climatic and logistical challenges across centres and seasons. Bangalore, with its favourable weather profile and experienced infrastructure, is well placed to lead the recovery phase.

Conclusion

April racing in Bangalore is both climatically feasible and economically necessary. Comparable centres already race during this period, the local weather remains relatively moderate, and pre-monsoon showers are a known and manageable factor. Most importantly, the livelihood of thousands connected to the sport depends on restoring racing activity at the earliest viable opportunity.

If health clearances and NOCs are secured, a timely resumption in April at Bangalore would not merely restart a season—it would stabilise an industry under strain and reaffirm confidence in the resilience of Indian horse racing.