The Mid week racing has been given amiss to accommodate the annual RWITC Managing Committee Elections at Mumbai this Thursday. The sitting committee, headed by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, is all set to extend its reign for the third successive year. Contrary to the heavy canvassing and hectic strategic activity seen last year, when The Poonawalla camp and the Mallya group locked horns to wrest the reins of the Club, this year's elections will be more of a formality than a contest. With 8 of the 9 seats expected to remain unchanged, or rather unchallenged, the only point of interest would be the successor to the slot vacated by Dr. Vijay Mallya.
New aspirant Capt. Jamshed Appoo and Jaydev Mody will, in all probability, have to vie for the electoral mandate. Speaking to me, Capt. Appoo said, “I am in the fray simply due to my love for the Club and the sport. If elected, I would like to devote my time and resources to further the cause of the Club and do all in my capacity to take the Club to greater heights.” Capt. Appoo has been an ardent race horse owner, a Sponsor of races across the country and an active member of several sub-committees of the RWITC looking into the welfare of some of the Club's activities. Capt. Appoo is aligned with Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla.
Jaydev Mody is seeking an entry to the Board room a second time as an independent candidate. “I am contesting due to my genuine concern for the Club and I would extend my full co-operation to the Chairman and the members of the Committee,” says Mody. “There is so much one can do to take the Club to a higher level and I would strive to do all I can with the sole interest of RWITC in mind.”
The year that has gone by has been eventful and successful under the chairmanship of Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla. The current Mumbai Season has been well planned from the racing perspective. The Marketing Committee, headed by Vivek Jain, has done a commendable job and for the first time ever, every Sunday during the season is now a Sponsored day.
Also, the current year has brought about a financial turnaround. The Club has shown a profit of Rs 4. 58 crore, which is the highest in the history of the Club. The overall betting has increased on the totes, bookmakers and the fixed odds betting. The total disbursement of Stake Money had increased to Rs 16.46 crore in 2006-07 from Rs 15.76 crore in 2005-06. It is expected to cross Rs 20 crore in 2007-08. Sponsorship money increased from Rs 165.85 lakh in 2005-06 to Rs 263.36 lakh in 2006-07 and is slated to be Rs. 441 lakh in 2007-08 – an all time record. The icing on the cake is the Rs 15-crore deal signed with UB Spirits for a 5-year sponsorship of The Indian Derby weekend. This is the highest sponsorship contract in the history of the sport in India, and was signed with UB Group chief, Dr Vijay Mallya, who is known to have brought glamour to this sport in India. The Indian Derby Day is the prime time in the Indian racing calendar, with the McDowell Indian Derby being the most prestigious race in the country.
The Committee has also sanctioned a budget of Rs 50 lakh to spruce up the Mahalaxmi Race Course. Work on developing recreation facilities for members would start soon.
The Stewards have introduced several new measures and reforms to increase transparency in their functioning. Punishments have been supported by detailed reasoning and without fear or favour.
The accomplishments prove the capability of the present Committee; now with a full year of extended reign ahead, RWITC looks all set to raise the bar and move to a higher level.
