India, July 25 -- The Pune Racing Season got off to an uneventful start last Friday to whet the appetite of racing fans, starved of live action for about four months. With 865 horses in the stables, somewhat higher than previous years though including two-year-old, well-filled cards should be the rule rather than the exception. Having attended the "bhoomi puja" on Monday for the much vaunted Club House in the presence of the chairman and several from the committee, it marked the fruition of a long-standing dream. The Royal Western India Turf Club's (RWITC) conclusion of an agreement that gets it to build this Club House on demolition of the second enclosure, which has existed for decades but seldom used, not only is a money spinner for the club, but it also got a 30-year extension of the lease. Albeit, it comes only after surrendering over 100 acres of prime land to the state. In the background of the takeover of race courses in Chennai, possibly Delhi and Bengaluru embroiled in litigation, this is a win-win for the RWITC as, most importantly, racing continues. And for this, the committee deserves the credit. The 21-day season is virtually a mirror of last year, except the piece de resistance - the Pune Derby gets a boost with Dr Cyrus Poonawalla sponsoring it with prize money of Rs.1 crore, double that of 2025. A substantial boost in prize money in a few years is on the cards as the club starts to earn from the substantial membership income in its coffers. One learns about 150 new members have already been admitted, and the number will only go up as the club starts taking shape, with completion expected in three-four years. Coming to Derbies, a new record was set in the Bangalore season, with the summer Derby offering record overall stakes of Rs.5 crore, the highest purse in Indian racing history thanks to Zavaray Poonwalla offering half the sponsorship amount. One has to applaud Zavaray, no bigger contributor to Indian racing, season after season. Champion trainer Pesi Shroff holds the king and queen - D'Artagnan and Margaretta in an overflowing pack of cards with many aces in the classics ahead. August 17 is the last date to get nominations to the RWITC Committee 2026-27, and as none have been received unless there is a "final" entry, the existing nine get an unprecedented fourth year without a vote by the members. But more on that later....