Centre takes possession of Delhi Race Club premises, demolition begins
The Delhi Race Club's century-old horse racing legacy suffered a dramatic setback on Thursday, August 27 as demolition work began at its 53-acre premises shortly after the Centre took possession of the property.
Bulldozers moved into the club in the morning, bringing down several structures associated with decades of horse racing, including the stables, bookmakers' ring, winning post, photofinish camera and saddling enclosure, a club official said.
“It was a deeply disturbing sight for anyone who has been associated with the club and racing,” a source associated with the club said.
The Centre took possession of the Lok Kalyan Marg premises after the Patiala House Court on Tuesday rejected the club's plea seeking an interim stay on an August 11 eviction order issued by an estate officer under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act.
The demolition marks the end of horse racing activities at the century-old institution, which had been home to more than 250 horses.
Of these, around 200 have already been taken back by their owners, while nearly 50 remain at the club, the official said.
“We have been given time till September 14 to sort everything out. We are planning to send the remaining horses to their owners in the next one or two weeks,” he said.
The club's stables, renovated in the 1940s, were specially designed to protect the horses from Delhi's harsh summers.
“This place was built very meticulously to shield the horses from the heat and keep the stables ventilated,” the official said.
The thoroughbreds housed at the club are among the country's finest and most expensive racehorses, with their value ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 50 lakh depending on pedigree and racing record.
Sources said horse floats have been leaving the racecourse every few days, transporting prized horses to racing centres in other parts of the country.
The dispute over the premises began in March when the Land and Development Office directed the club to vacate the government land within 15 days, saying it was required for public purposes.
The club challenged the order in the Delhi High Court.
On May 26, a division bench of the high court set aside an interim order that had stayed the show-cause proceedings against the club, allowing the eviction process to continue.
On August 11, the estate officer ordered the club to vacate the 53.24-acre premises within 15 days, holding that its lease had expired on December 31, 1994, and had not been renewed.
The Centre argued that the lease executed on March 8, 1926, was temporary and remained valid through periodic extensions only until December 31, 1994.
It maintained that the club had therefore remained in unauthorised occupation of government land since January 1, 1995.
The club's main appeal against the eviction order is scheduled to come up before the court for final disposal on September 26.
(With inputs from PTI)
