The curtains will fall down on the Mumbai racing season 2022-23 hosted by the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) at the end of this week, a compact season that was conducted amid challenging circumstances. The running of the Indian Derby, the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi-Million during a spaced out season was a grand success for which all members of the RWITC's managing committee deserve a special mention. However, it seems that India’s premier racing institution has saved its best for the last.

In a move that reflects the forward-looking vision of the RWITC’s managing committee spear-headed by Ram Shroff with the active support of chairman Suren Sanas and other colleagues, the turf club has planned a spectacular weekend of horseracing at the picturesque Mahalaxmi racecourse which will not be restricted to the thundering hooves. The club is offering a whopping three crore rupees in prize money that will be distributed in fourteen events to be run during the two-day event aptly named as the Indian Racing Carnival. This weekend racing extravaganza, conceived by Ram Shroff, would not have been possible but for the magnanimous contributions made by Zavaray Poonawalla, Vijay Shirke and Khushroo Dhunjibhoy who, in a way, have demonstrated their underlying passion for the sport and the institution.

The carnival includes an action-packed weekend of racing which, of course, will be accompanied by fun and frolic on the Mahalaxmi turf. The prestigious CN Wadia Gold Cup gets a much-deserved makeover this year which gives Mumbaikars the never-before opportunity of witnessing a battle royale between two four-legged beauties, Juliette and King’s Ransom. The duo last met in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup at Bangalore and it will be a rare occasion when race-goers will witness a renewed contest between the first three Invitation Cup finishers within a span of four weeks. This event has attracted outstation contenders which will surely raise its competitive quotient by a few notches.

While the RWITC has ensured quality fields for the weekend’s programme with a lucrative purse for each of the winning connections, it has also reserved a bonanza for race-goers who decide to attend the carnival. All punters who bet a minimum of Rs 500 on the tote will stand to win a prize in every race. There are fancy motorbikes, television sets and mobile phones to be won through a lucky draw to be conducted after every race. What’s more there is a jazzy car, MG Hector, to be won by nominating the first four horses (1-2-3-4) who finish in that order in the CN Wadia Gold Cup, the fourth race in Sunday’s card. A nomination form for this free contest of skill will be given to every entrant both at the member’s and first enclosure.

That said, you don’t need to be a racing pundit to claim the prizes; all you need is a little bit of luck and who knows, one of the attractive prizes could be yours or you might even drive home in the snazzy MG Hector car if Lady Luck is kind with you! So, be there with your family and friends to savour the racing feast hosted by the RWITC this weekend.