Mahalaxmi Racecourse

<h2 id="overview">Overview</h2>

The horse racing season starts in mid-November and ends in the last week of April. On the first Sunday in February, the <a href="/facts/Indian_Derby/Q7bfgtLl">Indian Derby</a> is conducted annually and is attended by many of the city's glitterati. Between 1984 and 2022, the Derby was sponsored by liquor baron <a href="/facts/Vijay_Mallya/6WmXkd9J">Vijay Mallya's</a> UB Group under the name of flagship company McDowells Co. Ltd. as <a href="/facts/The_McDowell%27s_Indian_Derby/Q7bfgtLl">The McDowell's Indian Derby</a>.
The common Mumbaikar has access to the racecourse in the mornings and evenings during specified timings for exercising, walking or jogging in the inner lane of the main horse race track. The racecourse has also transformed many common Mumbaikars to Marathoners. Yoga sessions akin to <a href="/facts/Tai_chi/UwGJXgWq">tai chi</a> are conducted in the garden situated within the race-track during the common permissible timings, akin to "<a href="/facts/Happy_Valley_Racecourse/PWC7rh6L">Happy Valley Racecourse</a>" in <a href="/facts/Hong_Kong/4nAf3mqQ">Hong Kong</a>. Lessons for <a href="/facts/Horse-riding/F13lkV3E">horse-riding</a> are also provided by Amateurs Riders Club. In the evenings, dogs are also allowed to be walked, but one has to check the permissibility. On weekends it is common to find Aero-Modelling hobbyists flying planes on the polo ground, performing aerial acrobats with motorized radio-controlled planes during non-racing days. The ground is also used as a <a href="/facts/Heli-pad/Xgx5vasD">heli-pad</a>. Lately, they have even started with providing newspapers in the morning to the joggers.

<h2 id="99-year-lease-debate">99-year lease debate</h2>
The land on which the racetrack sits was leased to the Royal Western India Turf Club for 99 years, ended in 31 May 2013.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a>
Some people feel the land should be converted into a public park.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> Others are sceptical about the park plan and feel it will become full of slums and encroachments.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a>
The state government favors leasing out the racecourse for another 30 years.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>
It is currently leased for Rs 56 lakh/year.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a> The new rates will be Rs 42 crore/year and increase every 5 years.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a>

<h3>Arguments for maintaining the racecourse</h3>
<ul><li>It currently employs 5000 people.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a></li>
<li>The state government collects Rs. 50 crore/year in betting tax from the 43 race days.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a></li>
<li>The Turf club maintains entire land including the walking and jogging track at no cost to the BMC or state government.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a></li>
<li>The lawns are rented out for weddings and other outdoor events.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mahalaxmi Racecourse.

<ul><li><a href="http://www.rwitc.com/comeracing/mumbairacecourse.php">Mahalaxmi Racecourse, webpage</a> at <a href="/facts/Royal_Western_India_Turf_Club/DV7nm1sq">Royal Western India Turf Club</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">https://www.australianturfclub.com.au/theo-marks-theo-marks-stakes/ [bare URL] <a href="https://www.australianturfclub.com.au/theo-marks-theo-marks-stakes/" target="_blank">https://www.australianturfclub.com.au/theo-marks-theo-marks-stakes/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">"The Mahalaxmi Race Course". Royal Western India Turf Club. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2010. <a href="http://www.rwitc.com/comeracing/mumbairacecourse.php" target="_blank">http://www.rwitc.com/comeracing/mumbairacecourse.php</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">"Civic body issues eviction notice to Turf Club". Indian Express. 8 May 2010. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2010. <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/news/civic-body-issues-eviction-notice-to-turf-cl/619035/" target="_blank">http://www.indianexpress.com/news/civic-body-issues-eviction-notice-to-turf-cl/619035/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">V, Manju (28 July 2011). "Drive to Juhu or main airport only route left". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131019161602/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-28/mumbai/29824324_1_helipad-mahalaxmi-helicopters" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131019161602/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-28/mumbai/29824324_1_helipad-mahalaxmi-helicopters</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Zodge, Vinayak; Deshpande, Alok (13 May 2013). "Sena eyes race course land for Bal Thackeray's memorial". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013. <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sena-eyes-race-course-land-for-bal-thackerays-memorial/article4712044.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sena-eyes-race-course-land-for-bal-thackerays-memorial/article4712044.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Chandrashekhar, Vaishnavi (13 June 2013). "Central Park Dreams Trigger a Battle in Mumbai". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013. <a href="https://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/13/central-park-dreams-trigger-a-battle-in-mumbai/" target="_blank">https://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/13/central-park-dreams-trigger-a-battle-in-mumbai/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"Don't hurry turf club renewal: Activists on Mahalaxmi race course | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 26 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2018. <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1839504/report-don-t-hurry-turf-club-renewal-activists-on-mahalaxmi-race-course" target="_blank">http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1839504/report-don-t-hurry-turf-club-renewal-activists-on-mahalaxmi-race-course</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">"State may renew racecourse lease - Hindustan Times". Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130614081934/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/mumbai/State-may-renew-racecourse-lease/Article1-1075438.aspx" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20130614081934/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/mumbai/State-may-renew-racecourse-lease/Article1-1075438.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">"State may renew racecourse lease - Hindustan Times". Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130614081934/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/mumbai/State-may-renew-racecourse-lease/Article1-1075438.aspx" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20130614081934/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/mumbai/State-may-renew-racecourse-lease/Article1-1075438.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">"State may renew racecourse lease - Hindustan Times". Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130614081934/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/mumbai/State-may-renew-racecourse-lease/Article1-1075438.aspx" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20130614081934/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/mumbai/State-may-renew-racecourse-lease/Article1-1075438.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">"Park on racecourse will render 5,000 jobless | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 5 June 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2018. <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1843893/report-park-on-racecourse-will-render-5000-jobless" target="_blank">http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1843893/report-park-on-racecourse-will-render-5000-jobless</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Zodge, Vinayak; Deshpande, Alok (13 May 2013). "Sena eyes race course land for Bal Thackeray's memorial". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013. <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sena-eyes-race-course-land-for-bal-thackerays-memorial/article4712044.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sena-eyes-race-course-land-for-bal-thackerays-memorial/article4712044.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Zodge, Vinayak; Deshpande, Alok (13 May 2013). "Sena eyes race course land for Bal Thackeray's memorial". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013. <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sena-eyes-race-course-land-for-bal-thackerays-memorial/article4712044.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sena-eyes-race-course-land-for-bal-thackerays-memorial/article4712044.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Zodge, Vinayak; Deshpande, Alok (13 May 2013). "Sena eyes race course land for Bal Thackeray's memorial". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013. <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sena-eyes-race-course-land-for-bal-thackerays-memorial/article4712044.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sena-eyes-race-course-land-for-bal-thackerays-memorial/article4712044.ece</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Mahalaxmi Racecourse open-in-new

Mahalaxmi Racecourse