Relocating racing tracks from BTC to Kunigal will be time and cost intensive

Setting up a new racing track for horses in the historic Kunigal Stud Farm could be both time and cost-consuming for the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC), which has been asked to move racing activities out of the current premises on High Grounds in Bengaluru within two years of issuing of the GO.

While the two-year window is being seen as a tight timeline, the century-old club has estimated that a new 2,200 m-2,400 m track laying, matching up to international standards, could cost upto ₹600 crore.

“Even if we compromise the standards by half, we would still need a minimum of ₹300 crore. The BTC does not have such resources of its own. We have to now look for corporate sponsorships or investments based on revenue-sharing models, and other means to raise money,” said a member aware of developments.

No other option

Another member said that they had no other option but move to Kunigal, since this was the closest big parcel of land available. “The government has decided on it. The main thing is to mobilise money. We are yet to work out a detailed project report,” he said. The two-year window is too short, the member said, adding that more time could be sought if needed.

The Cabinet on Thursday cleared a proposal to shift the racing activities to the 232-year-old Kunigal Stud Farm, where BTC has been offered 110 acres to build a racing track. An earlier move by the government in 2008 to provide about 80 acres in Doddajala on the city’s outskirts ran into legal trouble as the land identified was a dried-up lake bed that could not be diverted to any other purpose.

Memberships

Among other measures to raise money is loosening up the tightly-held membership from the earlier 350 to now 1,000. The governments and the BTC have clashed several times in the past decades over the membership seen as “premium” in the Bengaluru club circle. Over a century, with nominal increases, the club membership had reached 350 till the club last year decided to increase it to 1,000. The club could be looking at increasing the off-course betting centres, which are currently located at eight centres, including one each in Mangaluru and Tumakaru.

While the BTC managing committee is expected to meet next week to discuss the Cabinet-approved proposals, members are skeptical of the government’s move to provide four acres, including the heritage building, for club activities in the current location. “We had asked for six acres since we need space for parking, too. This needs some discussion with the government,” another member said.

Process in court

According to sources, the BTC will now have to approach the Supreme Court with the GO and file a compromise petition informing the court of its intention to withdraw the case that the club had filed earlier opposing relocation. “We think after the compromise petition is filed, the land will be handed over for development., and the two-year timeline will kick in,” said a member.

What will remain in Bengaluru?

Till the new track in Kunigal Stud Farm is ready, racing activities will continue on BTC premises here. After the racing operations are moved, the BTC will have bookmaker operations and tote operations besides the club facilities in Bengaluru. Though the BTC had asked for upto six acres in the current facility, the Cabinet on Thursday has approved four acres.

Why was current location chosen?

The BTC has been operating on 83 acres on the current premises since 1923, when the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore granted the land. “Horse racing tracks need to have good natural drainage. In fact, the location for the present race course was chosen because it was the high point in Bengaluru and that is why it is called the High Grounds,” a senior BTC member pointed out.