Indian Races: From “Races Are Forever” to “Races Till When?”

The Delhi Race Club is no more.

A nearly 100-year-old institution with roots in the Victorian era has been demolished after the 15-day notice to vacate the premises expired on 26 August. The club's Special Leave Petition also failed to secure relief from the Supreme Court, which refused to admit it.

For professionals, owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys and patrons associated with racing, this is heartbreaking. The Delhi Race Club was not merely a racecourse—it was a way of life, and its closure will affect many direct and indirect livelihoods.

More worrying is the timing. The breeding industry was already under severe pressure, with the decline in ownership and the impact of GST making the sport increasingly difficult to sustain. Within a year, three racing clubs have now shut down. Other clubs, particularly the Bengaluru Turf Club, which is already at loggerheads with the state government, cannot be anything but nervous watching what has happened in Delhi.

But can we blame the Government entirely?

Perhaps not.

The racing industry must also look within. Over the years, allegations of malpractice, lack of transparency and questionable decisions by stewards have not helped the image of racing clubs in the eyes of governments. In several instances, club members have behaved as though the club was their personal kingdom rather than an institution entrusted with protecting the sport.

Most importantly, racing failed to build a strong national voice.

The Turf Authorities of India have never emerged as the powerful national body the sport desperately needs. When clubs face government action, taxation challenges or regulatory problems, they largely fight their own battles. A fragmented industry cannot expect to have a strong negotiating position.

And then there is the 40% GST, which remains one of the biggest threats to racing's future. At a time when owners are disappearing, breeders are struggling and clubs are closing, such a high tax burden can only make participation more difficult.

The closure of Delhi should therefore be a wake-up call—not just an occasion to mourn.

The Government needs to reconsider whether the present taxation and regulatory framework is sustainable. Clubs need greater transparency and better governance. The racing fraternity needs to stop thinking only about individual clubs and start thinking about the survival of racing itself.

For years, regulars at the races used to say:

“Races are forever.”

Today, that confidence has been replaced by a far more uncomfortable question:

“Races till when?”

Delhi has lost a historic institution. The question now is whether Indian racing will learn from it—or wait for the next racecourse to disappear.

The Evolution of Indian Gambling: From the Matka King to the Silent Turf

 Watching the series Matka King on OTT platforms recently sparked deep curiosity about Mumbai’s legendary underground gambling history. While the show brilliantly captures the grit of the old numbers game, deep research reveals a fascinating crossover: the ultimate Matka King, Ratan Khatri, was also a massive pioneer in the world of legal Indian horse racing.

This is the story of how his mathematical genius shaped the racetrack, and how that vibrant culture eventually collapsed into the silent, empty stands we see today.

The King on the Turf: How Ratan Khatri Changed Racing

Ratan Khatri did not view horse racing as a game of luck. He treated Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Race Course as a giant exercise in mathematics, value, and probability. Using the logic he mastered in his underground Matka syndicates, he changed how everyday punters placed bets:

• The Introduction of Exotic Bets: Old-timers credit Khatri with introducing and standardizing complex wagers like Rolls (where winnings from one race automatically carry over to the next) and Kenchi bets (combination bets that cut risks across multiple horses).
• Rejecting "Inside Tips": Khatri famously ignored gossip from jockeys or stable hands. He focused strictly on raw numbers: a horse's body weight, historical handicap adjustments, and timing on different track conditions.
• A Low-Profile Legacy: After retiring from active Matka in the early 1990s, Khatri faded into a quiet life. Until his death in 2020, he remained a highly respected, quiet fixture in the members' enclosures—placing his bets through official channels while the bookies below used his exact mathematical systems to write their betting slips.

The Golden Era: Noise, Chai, and Forms

From the early 1990s to the late 2010s, horse racing in India experienced its modern golden age. Going to the track was a rich, communal lifestyle.

The morning of a race day was a sacred ritual. Groups of passionate punters would huddle outside the gates over a cup of cutting chai, debating racing cards like Cole or Original Vel. The grandstands roared with the collective gasp of thousands of people as the field turned the final bend. Winning a Jackpot or an exotic Kenchi pool on a tiny investment could change a lower-income household's financial fortune overnight.

The Current Reality: The Death of a Culture

Today, that electric adrenaline rush has completely evaporated. A recent visit to a local racecourse reveals a depressing, ghost-town atmosphere: empty stands, dusty Tote windows, a lone canteen operating with a heavily cut-down menu, and a general lack of cleanliness.

The physical collapse of the Indian race-betting ecosystem happened for a few definitive reasons:

• The 40% GST Death Blow: The Central government introduced a staggering 40% GST on the total face value of a bet. This means nearly half your money is wiped out before a horse even leaves the gates. Because it is mathematically impossible to make a steady profit under this tax bracket, casual punters abandoned the official Totalizator (Tote) counters completely.
• The Disappearance of Bookies: Massive post-COVID police and income tax crackdowns broke the big bookie rings of Mumbai. Some tried migrating their ledger operations to Delhi, but recent developments shut that down too. Today, bookies refuse to write high-risk Kenchi or Roll slips because the liquid cash volume needed to hedge their risks has dried up.
• No New Blood: A younger generation raised on instant digital stock and fantasy apps has no interest in entering an over-taxed, inaccessible hobby. The vital link that turned casual visitors into lifelong enthusiasts is broken.

What Remains Unchanged

The human world of bookies, lively debates, and thriving canteens has been completely dismantled by bad tax policies and bureaucratic neglect. The damage to India's racing culture is permanent.

Yet, for the true purist, a tiny piece of history remains. If you stand near the tracks today, the sound of the thundering hooves, the horses sniffing, and the raw power of the animals remain exactly the same as they were decades ago. The magic has evaporated from the betting ledgers, but the majesty of the animal remains completely untouched by time.

The 'G' curse on Indian Horse Racing

GST, GOVERNMENTS and now GLANDERS

G factor leading to GOOD BYE of Indian races