RWITC: ownership, key people and facts (Racing club)

The short answer

Who owns or governs Royal Western India Turf Club, and what does it do?

The Royal Western India Turf Club is a company limited by guarantee whose affairs are managed by a Committee of nine members elected by its Club Members, plus two Government of Maharashtra nominees; Surendra R. Sanas is Chairman. It stages racing at Mahalaxmi Race Course, Mumbai, from November to April and at Pune from July to October, around 70 race days a year by its own account, and is home to the five Indian Classics. Its Stewards, chaired by Dr Ram H. Shroff, have jurisdiction over racing matters, and racing at the Delhi Racing Club (1940) Limited is conducted under its supervision and rules. Its Committee is also the committee of the Stud Book Authority of India, which keeps the Indian Stud Book.

Ownership and governance

The Royal Western India Turf Club, Limited is a company limited by guarantee, regulated by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. It was incorporated in Bombay on 1 April 1925 as The Western India Turf Club, Limited, and took its present name on 10 June 1936. Each member’s guarantee is limited to one rupee. The Club’s management, funds and property rest with a Managing Committee of nine Club Members elected each year by Club Members, plus two Government of Maharashtra nominees; the Committee elects the Chairman. The Committee nominates nine Club members as Stewards, who have jurisdiction over racing, joined by government nominees and the GOC-in-Chief, Southern Command. A Board of Appeal of six elected members and a government nominee hears appeals against the Stewards’ decisions. Only Club Members, 1,684 of the 10,920 members in all categories, can vote.

The Club holds a 30-year lease from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, from 1 June 2023, on 92.61 acres at Mahalaxmi. For the year to 31 March 2026 it reported total income of ₹8,799.63 lakh and a deficit of ₹12.48 crore after depreciation, which the Committee attributed mainly to inter-venue betting days lost because of glanders and other issues at other clubs. Its auditors, Walker Chandiok & Co LLP, qualified their opinion over ₹1,133.13 lakh of GST paid under protest.

What RWITC runs

Racecourses

Mahalaxmi Race Course, Mumbai (92.61 acres leased from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to 31 May 2053)
Pune Race Course, 6 Arjun Marg (118.5 acres)

Stabling

Additional stabling at Empress Gardens, Pune

Club facilities

Club House, Mahalaxmi, with gymnasium and card room for members
Residential facility in Pune with 25 rooms and 4 cottages

Stud books

Indian Stud Book (Stud Book Authority of India, whose committee is the RWITC Committee)

Races

Indian Classics at Mahalaxmi: 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, Oaks, Derby and St Leger
Pune Derby and RWITC Gold Cup, Pune

As listed by the organisation. See sources.

Key people

Surendra R. SanasChairman
Dr Ram H. ShroffChairman, Stewards of the Club
Niranjan SinghSecretary
Jiyaji M. BhosaleCommittee Member
Khushroo N. DhunjibhoyCommittee Member
Sunil G. JhangianiCommittee Member
Gautam P. LalaCommittee Member
Jaydev M. ModyCommittee Member

As listed on Managing Committee / Royal Western India Turf Club.

Status and listing

Status: Not listed

Where it operates

India

As the organisation reports it. See sources.

Key dates

1800: Sir Charles Forbes, G Hall, A Campbell and P Haddow started the Bombay Turf Club at the Byculla Club grounds, according to the club's timeline.
1864: The Bombay Turf Club changed its name to Western India Turf Club.
1883: Racing moved permanently to Mahalaxmi, on land originally donated by Sir Cusrow N Wadia.
1925: The Western India Turf Club, Limited was incorporated on 1 April 1925 under the Indian Companies Act, 1913.
1936: The company's name was changed to Royal Western India Turf Club, Limited on 10 June 1936; the club's timeline dates King George V's permission for the Royal prefix to 1935.
1943: The Indian Classics, restricted to horses bred in India, were introduced; the club's timeline places them in the 1942-43 season.
2023: The Club executed a 30-year lease with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for 92.61 acres at Mahalaxmi, running from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2053.
2026: The 111th Annual Report showed a deficit of ₹12.48 crore for the year to 31 March 2026, and the AGM to adopt the accounts was called for 17 September 2026.

Questions readers ask

Who owns the Royal Western India Turf Club?

It is a company limited by guarantee, regulated by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, in which each member's liability is limited to one rupee. Its Club Members, the only category with voting rights, elect a nine-member Managing Committee each year, and the Government of Maharashtra nominates two further Committee members.

What does the Royal Western India Turf Club do?

It stages horse racing at Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai from November to April and at Pune from July to October, runs totalisator and fixed-odds betting, and controls racing through its Stewards. It is home to the five Indian Classics, and racing in Delhi is conducted under its supervision and rules.

Where is the Royal Western India Turf Club based?

Its registered office is at the Race Course, Mahalakshmi, Mumbai 400 034. Its Pune racecourse is at 6 Arjun Marg, Pune.

Sources

Figures are taken from the documents listed below and carry the date they refer to.

The Equanine Directory

Profiles are compiled by the desk from the organisation’s own pages, filings and official records. A listing does not buy coverage. Report a correction.