Turf Authority of India honours Zavaray Poonawalla with Legend of Indian Horse Racing award

Pune:  The contribution of Zavaray S. Poonawalla to Indian horse racing received special recognition at the Turf Authorities of India (TAI) Racing Excellence Awards ceremony in Mysore on Saturday (Oct. 24) evening, when he was conferred with the prestigious ‘Legend of Indian Horse Racing’ award. To acknowledge his sustained contribution to the horse racing sport and his efforts to support its growth across the country.

The Poonawalla family’s association with thoroughbred breeding and racing has played a significant role in the development of Indian racing.

When race clubs were facing a financial crunch and when certain race clubs were on the borderline of closing down forever and while everyone was watching silently only one person who came forward saying “I am here. I will stand by you. I will help your clubs” was Sir Zavaray Poonawalla.

First, he helped the Bangalore Turf Club as he became the pillar for rebuilding the new Bangalore race course at Kunigal at a time when the Bangalore Race Course was given only two years to shift from its original location. At such a critical time, Sir Zavaray Poonawalla stepped in and gave new life by completely changing the atmosphere of Bangalore racing.

Then came Mysore race Club wherein he poured his funds to host big prize money races including Mysore derby and Zavaray Poonawalla Indian Invitation Cup 2026 1000 & 2000 Guineas, St. Leger races, which infused enough money to save life of jockeys, syes and trainers , basically everyone connected with  horse racing in Bangalore and Mysore as they were on the verge of closing down if not Zavaray Poonawalla had stepped in.

New adventure: Mission Madras

Zavaray Poonawalla has now taken up a new adventure—of the re-opening of historic Madras Racecourse. On top of his agenda is to save sinking clubs. Idea is not to let any club in India to close down. Taking Indian Racing Industry to International Level would be his next step.