The first mounted sports were held in Matheran in the summer of 1943 and
since then they are being held at Mumbai every year along with Polo
tournaments, Gymkhana races and other equestrian activities. The Club
entered a new phase in its activities with the advent of Independence.
After the stewardship of the first Hon. Secretary Mr. Vithal Mehta, his
good work was carried on by the next Hon. Secretary Major J D Mistry who
in turn passed on the reins to Vasant Banker.
Under the twenty-five year tutelage of the late Jimmy Bharucha, who took
over as Hon. Secretary from Vasant Banker, the club reached new heights.
The contribution of this legendary horseman to the success of all
equestrian activity in ARC is priceless. He was followed by Col.
Jalnawalla, Kamlendra Sinh and Col. Y.S. Ahalawat. Col. T. S. Pandher is
the current secretary having taken over in 1996.
In the initial stages
the club started with just four horses of its own and today is proud to
stable 25 horses of its own and another 70 horses of its members. The
present stable complex was occupied in January 1977 and we will always
be deeply indebted too the late C.C. Chokshi and his Committee for
making this possible. The club's activities in respect of polo are
entirely due to the magnanimous efforts of Col. Maharaj Premsingh, the
famous international polo player who introduced this game in the club as
far back as 1950. Not only did he guide the club but also supported it
by his personal direction and efforts as also providing good polo ponies
to the club at a very nominal price. H.V. Mariwala played an important
role in the revival of polo during his seventies.
In 1997, under the
leadership of Adil Gandhy, the club was proud to hold the National
Equestrian Championships for the very first time in its history and won
accolades from all quarters. The present activities of the club are a
tribute to the efforts of the initial band of enthusiastic riders who
formed the nucleus of the club 65 years ago.
Imtiaz Anees, a
member of the club, represented the country in Three-Day Event in Sydney
Olympics in 2000 and completed the course, the first and only Indian to
do so. Our junior riders have done well in National Events in their
class and Aditya Ahuja won at International team Jumping Event in Europe
in July 1999. The club has produced many riders who won in Nationals in
Junior Class.
In January 1987 the
club reached an agreement with the Royal Western India Turf Club where
by training of the Apprentice Jockeys and running of the Apprentice
Jockey School was taken over by the Club under the overall supervision
of the late Jimmy Bharucha. On Mr. Bharucha's demise the training has
reverted to the RWITC. The ARC has been instrumental in training top
jockeys of RWITC like Karl Umrigar, Vasant Shinde, Deepak, Pesi Shroff
and Marosh Irani to name a few.
The Amateur Riders' Club conducts its Gymkhana Races during the month of
April/May every year. Gymkhana races are similar to professional horse
racing, except that the horses are normal horses used for riding, and
the riders are non-professional jockeys. These races are held so that
members of the ARC can get an idea of the excitement and skills required
in horse racing.
