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Horse
riding is doubtless the most universal enjoyed of all racing sports and is
popularly known as "Sport Of Kings". In some sections it has fallen into
disrepute on account of that demoralization that come from the betting ring.
On occasions, owners of the horses manipulate to have "fixed" or made up
races in the sense they decide before hand what horse should win; and
whenever this is known to the public or it comes to there knowledge that the
contest , in that particular race , was not between the horses but in the
betting ring, they loose interest.
History and
records are very silent on the point as to when , what year , and how racing
took its life in Pune. But it is evident that racing did find its place in
this city before the year 1870 the old Race Course being located at
the banks of the river Mutha, which is now popularly known as Boat Club
Road. In the year 1870 it was shifted to its present location, when the
Western India Turf Club came into picture. The present racecourse land was
given to the Turf Club by Major General Burnett in that year.
A useful
amenity was added to the Race course in the year 1922 in the shape of Club
House, when the Club purchased the old Wellingdon Soldier's Club, adjoining
the Race course and renovated it to suit the comforts of the members who
either attended the races or spent their week ends in Pune during the
season. This old Wellingdon Soldiers Club was established in the year 1918
when its foundation stone was laid by his Excellency the Governor Lord
Welllingdon was a lover of sports transferred this building to the Turf
Club. The Club House is under the management of a committee known as Club
House Committee. This Club House beside Providing excellent housing
accommodation comprising of 21 rooms, 11 double and 10 single also provides
for recreational games such as Billiards. It also has a card room and a ball
room.
The Club
House is only open during the Poona Monsoon Season.
Reliable
and authentic information reveal that the land of the Race Course was Inam
lands called " Kazi Watan Emolument," granted to the Kazi of Poona by the
Muslim Kings for his services to the community and was known as Kazi Patti.
These lands were confirmed as Inam lands by the British in the year 1860
when an Inam Commission was appointed which examined the titles and Sanads
of all such Inams. It appears that a later stage in 1862 the heirs of the
original Kazi whose name was Kazi Mohomed Abbas, alienated these under a
kararnama in favour of one Vadoo Sait of Messrs. Ludha Ibrahim & Co. of
Bombay and Poona. Such alienation was not permissible under the terms of
either the Inam Sanad or the "Faisalnama" ( decision ), of the Inam
Commission. Government therefore resumed these lands from the Kazis,
including them within the Cantonment limits and in the year 1870 Major
General Burnett handed the same to the Western India Turf Club. No agreement
whatsoever of any nature appears to have been entered into between the
Military Authorities, or Government and the Club, but records show that in
the year 1907, to be precise, on 16th February 1907 a lease was executed
between the secretary of State for India in Council and Lt. Col. George
Henry Bull, M.D., I. M. S. and honourable Mr. Louis Pitman Russel, judge of
Bombay High Court, as Trustees of the Club was to pay Rs. 20,000/- to the
Army Authorities to be sent by the General Officer Commanding the 6th.
Division ( Poona ) for laying out recreation and Polo Ground for the use of
Garrison at Poona and to pay an annual ground rent of Rs. 1,200/-
through the Cantonment Authority. The total area assigned under this lease
was 118.5 acres
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