Wet, Wild, and Wonderfully Unpredictable

 

By Sharan Kumar

 

There’s a buzz in the air (and probably in the clouds) as the Pune racing season thunders out of the gates on Friday with a card of nine events. This is no casual trot in the park—it’s the grand launch of a 20-day season. Yes, just 20. Gone are those glory days when Pune offered over 30 days of racing, leaving punters so busy they’d forget every other commitment.

 

Alas, the post-Covid world has made everyone count their rupees, including the RWITC. Add to that the joy-killing, wallet-thinning GST—so punitive it might as well come with a note saying “Good luck funding prize money!” But wait—there’s light at the end of this gloomy audit: RWITC got clearance to build a plush new clubhouse in Mumbai. The new membership fees, and club activities are expected to boost the revenue and eventually lead to loosening the club’s financial corset in the long run.

 

And RWITC isn’t exactly short on generous benefactors. Zavaray Poonawalla has pledged to bankroll the show if needed (the “godfather” of Indian racing).  Brother Cyrus isn’t content to watch from the sidelines either. Add racing-loving patrons like Vijay Shirke, Khushroo Dhunjibhoy, and other deep-pocketed members, and you have a recipe for optimism. The result? Prize money for the 20 days will cross ₹12 crore.

 

And it’s not just the money. While other centres struggle to fill their barns, RWITC still has about 700 horses stabled—a small army ready to battle the idiosyncrasies of the Pune track.

 

This year brings new (and returning) faces. James McKeown is moving from Chennai with his A license in hand, ready to prove that shifting base is more than just a real-estate decision. His arrival will help replenish the trainer ranks sadly hit by the losses of Shiraz Sunderji and Altaf Hussain.

 

Meanwhile, Bangalore-based Prasanna Kumar will want to repeat last season’s fairy tale (including the Derby). Adhirajsingh Jodha has been the toast of the turf lately, but he might miss some Pune action thanks to a suspension at Kolkata for a medical breach—a reminder that racing isn’t just about training horses but also not getting in trouble yourself.

 

Veterans like Imtiaz Sait will try to keep the younger brigade honest, while Narendra Lagad will look to extend his love affair with Pune’s short straight. His horses know just one strategy: go fast, stay fast, win fast. And let’s not forget Malesh Narredu, with quality stock that can spoil many parties.

 

And then there’s the colossus himself—Pesi Shroff. Pune’s early-season rains may keep him quiet for a bit, but come October, he’ll roll in like a storm front. By then his horses will be polished, primed, and ready to raid the rich prizes on offer—besides tuning up for Mumbai, which is his real playground.

 

About 274 two-year-olds are currently based in Pune, a promising sign for the future. The season’s jewels in the crown? The Indian St Leger on September 21 and the Pune Derby on October 12—though nearly every week will offer a graded contest to keep the form guides flying and the betting ring buzzing.

 

Speaking of which—Pune’s betting ring is famous for its competitive edge. Unlike certain venues where favourites win so predictably you wonder why anyone bothers studying form, Pune delights in confounding expectations. Its charming unpredictability isn’t just a marketing line. Blame the rains, the tight turns, the tricksy underfoot conditions: picking a winner here is part science, part art, part sacrificial offering to the racing gods.

 

Horses that master these conditions become local legends. Others sulk, stumble, and save their best for Mumbai. For punters and professionals alike, that’s part of the appeal. It’s not just a race—it’s a test of adaptability, nerve, and (let’s admit it) dumb luck.

 

As Pune and Hyderabad’s monsoon seasons get going almost in tandem, and with Bangalore’s summer meeting running into early August before Mysore takes over, Indian racing fans are in for a thrilling, sodden, spectacular few months.

 

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