I have returned to race course after years, though whichever part of the world i have been i have kept in touch with happenings and events of the race course and have watched direct telecasts on ten sports of feature events. Well I thought race course to be the same place I had been a regular to as a youngster... it's not. I remember Delhi race course, it's become something like that, instead of improving, racing at mahalaxmi seems to have regressed. I am not aware if other racing centres have regressed equally.
One of my favorite owners as a youngster was Mr. Champak Lal Zhaveri, he has graduated to being a senior custodian of RWITC and I was delighted to see him present various trophies to winning owners with a ever radiant smile and panache that suits him so well and a charm that he has retained so well over the years, but that's all about the race course that hasn't changed.
First thing i noticed was a lack of crowd, the stands have been empty, even for major events like ST. Leger that I attended this year the crowd were a patch of whaat we used to see on a regular race day back in eighties and early nineties, so why has the public dumped racing?
One answer to it is evident that Mumbai racing is like what delhi race course of eighties was, you saw the color of betting in the ring and discovered the winner, I never imagined that could happen in Mumbai ever, i was proud of the fact that racing in Mumbai was a sport and not gambling. Now look what happens in Mumbai, Pre race favorites at 16/10 Golden orra goes up to 5-1 in the same race Cindrella man starts at 2-1 and finishes well over three and Breznev which started the day at 2-1 opens over three and touches 5-1, and then dutifully all three lose...two of them well in rear. Same thing happened with price of Arkhos and Hurricane, well before the race you know that these horses are not on job! A horse who doesn't figure on board in past races wins a race start to finish in a miler!!!
No doubt that RWITC is no longer running a sport, but a gambling den. Nothing has changed at the race course, the same old chairs in the stands, they look ancient now, the eatbles are sorry reminders of dishes that are ancient. You get some sorry sandwiches, cutlets!!, puffs!!! the sofas outside the stand counters appear to have been bought from a 1920 garage sale. the lawns were badly kept and patches of brown showing at many places.
The paddock is in a very sorry state, the fencing is in urgent need of replacement, the information boards are a blast from past, in days of plasma screen and touch button interactivity RWITC course is a stark reminder of things as they existed years ago. The television sets are bad, many have contrasts and colors messed up, and the seating in front of the paddocks where mostly old and avid race goers sit down to look at the horses at close quarters is the most uncomfortable place of the race course.
The cloak rooms need a complete makeover, there is a need for proper seating, more greenery and upmarket snacking at the RWITC. Those who took the decision to allow people in pants & shirts have killed the glamor of the race course, there needs to be a dress code, if suits are out then at least people should be formally dressed and look good, what's this with jeans & sneakers. It's a funny sight seeing Pesi Shroff lead a winning horse in ill fitting trouser and shirt with his body bulging from all points, i guess a jacket would definately do him good, Dallas Todywalla with his tie and a jacket has maintained the dignity that trainers should.
Finally having gone through almost a season with continous track of races at RWITC, i can sum it up by saying clean racing is dead, most of the professionals are hunters of punters. there are no crowds that cheer the owner as he leads the horse and I haven't seen single standing ovation to a jockey, trainer or an owner.
The gap between successful and not so successful professionals has grown very large. Most people complain of the inefficiency of the stewards to maintain clean racing. My father quit owning horses after his very well bred horse Knight & Day who was running an on money favorite was got by the race mafia and killed. My father was shattered as the culprits were never brought to justice.
Years after that incident, today at Mahalaxmi it appears mafia rules the roost.
If we need the sport to survive, we need to make things better at the race course, and ofcourse, we need to get the bookmakers out, the tote dishes out good odds, let people back whatever they want at the tote.
