The season was a success on many if not most fronts. Sponsorships, which all clubs desperately seek, scaled a new high. For the first time Pune had a sponsor through every weekend, almost. The gross contribution of Rs.45.46 lacs from sponsors was up 55%. More encouraging was the presence of several first time corporates and their assurance that they will not only return, but with bigger events. In fact, Panchshil will be sponsoring The Indian St Leger at Mumbai, and Oxford has made a bid for the Pune Derby from 2007. There is no greater feather than having satisfied sponsors who wish to be back. Another feature was the booming tote collections, a reflection on the growing confidence on the integrity of the sport. Tote collections including fixed odds was up 20% to a gross Rs 21 crore. Fixed odds betting surged nearly 40% even though net returns are still short of expectation.
Owners had nothing to complain, as the gross stake payout of Rs.466.69 lacs was a tad higher than last year inspite of a cutback in divided races. However for the Club, in view of sponsored prizes increasing, there was a direct saving in cost propping the bottom line.
What was a major achievement was the increase in bookmakers’ collections to Rs.551.2 lacs from Rs.539.78 lacs, a trend reversed after years of falling collections. If this does not speak of the confidence in the conduct of the sport, what does!
The Pune course itself was spruced up and the addition of the sponsor/VIP lounge, courtesy the
Poonawalla's, was a great asset especially in view of our increased sponsors. Better signages, more TVs and tote windows and general increase in cleanliness made for more pleasant race day ambience.
The working track stood up wonderfully well in a hard monsoon, and not a day of work was lost to rain. Racing was keen and competitive and Dr.M.A.M.Ramaswamy, expectedly swept the plums, through his bred in the purple equines. There was no serious infringement or malpractice and racing was perceived to be fair and clean by even the most hardened critics of the management.
The spanking judgments on the Vinayak case by the Mumbai High Court and the Supreme Court vindicated the decision of the Stewards and Appeal Board and gave a clear message that except in the rarest of cases, courts of law would not interfere.
Mahalaxmi is a few short weeks away and the racing public can look forward to the biggest and brightest season ever.
