The Royal Western India Turf Club Managing Committee elections will be held on December 16. Mr. Vivek Jain, Chairman, RWITC, released the manifesto of his team at a press conference here on Thursday.
Mr. Zavaray Poonawalla, who has contributed hugely to Indian racing, is one of the aspirants for the committee post this time and he will support Mr. Jain’s team.
Mr. Jain said, “It took a great deal of persuasion to make Zavary to contest the elections. He is convinced of the need for his presence in the committee and agrees to throw his lot with us. I am confident of getting the mandate of the electorate given the good performance of my team.”
In view of the financial losses incurred by the club as alleged by his rival Mr. K.N. Dhunjibhoy, Mr. Jain stated, “Mr. Dhunjibhoy was chairman for half the year 2013-14 in which he made a loss. Decisions made by him last year impacted this year’s working. We are budgeting a Rs. 15 crore turnaround in next 12 months. Estimated cash loss for the year 2014-15 is Rs. 3 crore and not Rs. 15 crore as portrayed. The reserves of the club stand at a healthy Rs. 125 crore.”
While discussing the lease renewal issue of the Club, he said, “I have met BJP and Shiv Sena leaders at the highest level. The lease will take time, but will fructify. Grandiose plans of Club House cannot materialise without the lease and in fact can jeopardise it.
“Among the many achievements of the committee which I headed the foremost was the record sponsorships, roping in sponsor for the Invitation Cup weekend to be held at Mumbai in the first week of March, 2015, for a whopping amount of Rs. 2 crore, increase in owners’ benefits by nine crore in the last one year and several sponsored races for the average class horse,” he added.
The Jain’s team: Zavaray Poonawalla, Champaklal Zaveri, Geoffrey Nagpal and Goolam Vahnavaty.
