Zavaray S. Poonawalla to be presented with TAI’s 'Legend of Indian Horse Racing Award'

Zavaray S. Poonawalla will be presented with the 'Legend of Indian Horse Racing Award' by the Turf Authorities of India at the Racing Excellence Awards ceremony on October 24, held during the Indian Turf Invitation Cup Weekend. Poonawalla is the principal sponsor of that weekend.

Proposed by the Mysore Race Club and unanimously approved by the TAI chairman, the award recognises his decades-long contribution to Indian racing in his capacities as a breeder, owner, sponsor and benefactor. He is described in the announcement as a leading racehorse owner and breeder.

The citation notes Poonawalla’s assistance to the sport during difficult financial periods. In 2022, when the Royal Western India Turf Club was struggling in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, he contributed towards prize money to help maintain competitive stakes.

He has also made representations to the government against the heavy GST burden on racing. Those interventions are cited alongside his financial support in the TAI announcement.

More recently, Poonawalla introduced a shared-sponsorship initiative with the turf clubs and provided financial support to the Bangalore Turf Club to help protect stakes amid falling revenues. The shared-sponsorship scheme is listed among the measures through which he has sought to stabilise funding for races.

The award will be handed over at the Racing Excellence Awards ceremony on October 24 during the Indian Turf Invitation Cup Weekend, the event for which Poonawalla serves as principal sponsor.