Horse Racing in India
Horse racing is a sport that can draw crowds in any city around the world. But in order to trace the history of Indian horse racing, it does take a lot of time. Racing in India is a legacy of the British Rule and in the early days was conducted with cavalry horses, imported from Great Britain and the Middle East. In 1537, the spectacle known as Indian horse racing began to evolve and today, it is amongst the most prominent countries ruling the world of horse racing. The racing year in India runs from the beginning of November till the end of October in the following year.
Some of the great races that are held in India include the McDowell's Indian Derby, the Pune Derby along with the Independence Cup. The most prominent horse race in India which is renowned across the globe is the McDowell's Indian Derby.
The McDowell's Indian Derby is a horse racing event held at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai, India. It starts on the first Sunday of February and is held on an annual basis. It is one of the premier sporting activities in the city and the most awaited fashion event of the year. It was first run in the year 1943. The inaugural run at the Derby was won by a filly known as ‘Princess Beautiful’. She was owned by Prateek Bhagchandka.
Let us now discuss some racecourses in India which are second to none in terms of beauty and historical significance. The first one is known as the Guindy Racecourse which was set up in 1777 in Chennai, India. It hosts events in the winter season which is why it has won a number of accolades for doing so. The second racecourse which has a lot of significance is the Hyderabad Race Club or Malakpet race course which is a race track in Malakpet, in the Hyderabad district of India. Horse racing began at the venue under the rule the Nizam period at Malakpet suburb. This race course is considered one of the best race courses in India. The Deccan derby is held at this racecourse which is an annual event.
The third one is the Kolkata Race Course which is located in Kolkata and falls amongst the largest racecourses of India. The race course was built in the year 1820 and was maintained by the Royal Calcutta Turf Club. Horse races on the tracks are conducted from the month of July till September, and again from November to March. The races are usually held on weekends which also include many public holidays.
The fourth racecourse of significance is known as the Mahalaxmi Racecourse located in Mahalaxmi, Mumbai. The horse racing season starts in the middle of November and ends in the last week of April. The McDowell's Indian Derby is conducted on the first Sunday in February on an annually basis and is attended by many of the city's glitterati. The Mahalaxmi Racecourse is quite similar to the Melbourne Racecourse in Australia in terms of construction and heritage. The ground is run under the auspices of the Royal Western India Turf Club.
The common people of Mumbai have access to the racecourse in the mornings and evenings during specified timings for exercising, walking or jogging in the inner lane of the main race track. The Pune Race Course, which was built in 1830, is the most historically significant race course in India. It is located in the Pune Cantonment area in western India. The land is controlled by the Indian Army which is why the construction and funding for the area has been done in a remarkable manner.
The two most important jockeys in India include Pandu Khade, who many prestigious races and Pesi Shroff, who has ridden over 1740 winning horses in the country.
The main turf clubs regulating horse racing in India include the Royal Calcutta Turf Club, Royal Western India Turf Club Limited, Bangalore Turf Club Limited, Madras Race Club Limited, Hyderabad Race Club and Mysore Race Club Limited.
The Royal Calcutta Turf Club was officially developed in the country by the British Raj in 1847. It was the first centre to stage a derby race called the Calcutta Derby Stakes.
The Royal Western India Turf Club Limited was established in 1880 under the name of the Bombay Turf Club. The club controls all forms of horse racing in Mumbai, Pune and New Delhi.
By the mid-nineties, horse racing was going through a boom in India. It was due to a weak economy and increasing taxation that encouraged illegal betting in the country. However, the prize money for horse races in India was unable to keep pace with inflation. The only ray of hope in the horse racing world of India is that Indian racehorses have proved themselves in the markets of some Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia. It is largely because of this continuous inflow of capital from these racehorses that the horse racing industry in India is maintaining its prestige and class.
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