Horse racing in Mumbai suspended over coronavirus scare

MUMBAI: The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) has suspended horse racing and offcourse betting in Mumbai with effect from Sunday due to the spreading Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) threat.

“In view of the advisories issued by the Government regarding the precautionary measures to be taken for Coronavirus (COVID-19), the committee of Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd, at its meeting held today decided not to conduct racing and off-course betting operations from Sunday March 15, untill further notice,” the club said in a statement.

RWITC’S decision came after Royal Calcutta Turf Club and Bangalore Turf Club had suspended racing and betting activities on Friday. The Mumbai season is currently on with Sunday being the next race day in the winter season.

The RWITC is hoping to re-start racing sometime after April 15 and has alerted all stakeholders of the possibility of completing the balance races by extending the season in April.

The RWITC issued a separate notification on Saturday informing all stakeholders that “the Committee of the club will review the situation sometime at the end of this month with a view towards taking a decision on conducting the balance race days in the month of April 2020 if the situation improves.”

Meanwhile, other none-race activities will go on at the club as per schedule.

The club does not have any plans of moving the equines out of Mumbai due to the coronavirus threat as its offices will function as usual.