The Calcutta racecourse has been one of the landmarks of this metropolis for nearly two centuries. Leased by the army to the Royal Calcutta Turf Club for a paltry sum, the racecourse raked in revenue for the state as thoroughbred racing became a popular sport over the decades. With the growing popularity came the welcome sound of jingling coffers at the Club.

However, as they say, 'what goes up must come down', and so it was at RCTC. Scandals and controversies rocked the club, leaving it in the lurch by the 1990s. Several unions popped up which hardly helped RCTC's cause. For the first time in the history of the club, the New Year's Day races were cancelled in 1993 following a lightning strike by the syces. It was clear that the club management was slowly losing control. Internal strife, financial scandals and lack of sponsorship combined to leave a cash-strapped RCTC gasping.

To fully appreciate the huge effort put in by the present set of Stewards led by Cyrsus Madan to resurrect the club to its present standing, one would have to know a little about the history of the Club which was granted the appellation 'Royal' after the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1912.

The first racing in Calcutta took place at a venue called Akra Farm, south of Garden Reach in the mid-18th century. Nothing captures the ambience of those days of yore better than this little advertisement that had been placed in a local paper: "The Stewards present their compliments to the subscribers to the races and advise them that breakfast with music will be provided in tents on the course after the racing on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by Ball and Supper, when they hope for the honour of their company."

It took nearly half-a-century for thoroughbred racing to become a regular event in the city. In 1803, the Bengal Jockey Club was formed and six years later, racing was shifted to the Maidan. Some meetings were also conducted at Barasat.

The Calcutta Turf Club was subsequently formed in 1847 and it was towards the end of the 19th century that they acquired the premises on 49 Theatre Road to serve as their office. These offices were shifted to 11, Russell Street in 1920 and subsequently to their present location inside the racecourse in 2005.During the pre-war period, after the Calcutta meetings in December and January, races were also conducted at Barrackpore till March.

In the 1950s and ‘60s, the RCTC was flooded with leading professionals from England — Mac Galstaun, Goswell, Wally Swinburn, Eddie Cracknell, Lester Piggott, Sibbritt, Rickaby , Faggotter, Captain Fownes and his nephew Lawrie Fownes. The list is endless! They came, they saw and they conquered.

February 18, 1961 was a red-letter day for the RCTC — Queen Elizabeth II visited the racecourse to witness the running of the Cup named after her. It remains a highly prestigious event even today. Attired in pink, she was a picture of royalty, hitherto unseen at the venue. Just about everybody who was anybody in the city during that time was present at the racecourse to grace the occasion.

Indian royalty in the form of Maharajadhiraja of Burdwan, Maharani Gina Narayan and Maharani P.K. Devi Rana were present as were hordes of other eminent personalities.

The next two decades saw the departure of several Britishers from this city and it was left to the Anglo-Indian community and the Armenians to keep the sport alive and kicking here. Men like Haskell David, Lawrie Fownes and Philip Corner were at the forefront of the trainers' ladder.

In the early ‘70s— the inimitable Nelson Reuben, the powerful heavy-weight Richard Alford and the 'gentleman rider' Robin Corner were much in demand on the saddle. Alford and Corner are stationed at this centre currently as trainers. Their 'days of glory' may be over but age has not diminished their urge to win.

The 'sport of kings' was considered to be the cleanest here as compared to other major centres like Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. The leading trainer of the ‘80s, Rashid Byramji, went so far to say this in an interview. The men at the helm — the stewards of RCTC, were considered above board.

The current winter season has witnessed a resurrection of sorts of this prestigious club. The 'romance of racing' has to some extent returned to this historic club. Old-timers across the nation often concur that there is no better sight than a full-house at the RCTC egging their favourites on.

One hopes that by the time the next Invitation Cup is held in the city, in the year 2012, RCTC will have retrieved a little more of that lost era.