The racecourse grapevine has it that the marketing sub-committee of the Royal Western  India Turf Club (RWITC) has been scrapped by the club's managing committee. The decision was taken on Monday evening at a meeting held at Mahalaxmi racecourse.

The meeting turned out to be stormy thanks to a heated exchange between Vivek Jain, head of the scrapped sub-committee, and Captain Jamshed Appoo, a prominent committee member who too was part of it.

The marketing sub-committee of the RWITC looks after the promotion, publicity, and media exposure for the sport of horse racing. It had, in recent years, roped in many corporate houses as race sponsors, thanks mainly to single-handed effort of its chairman.

Jain confirmed that a stormy meeting was held at the club premises. "There was heated discussion and debate about scrapping the marketing committee. If this happens it will be a ridiculous decision as we are left without a marketing committee even as the Pune racing season has just begun this week," Vivek Jain said.

Reliable sources reveal that Jain's announcement some days ago about the real estate group, Hiranandani, bidding for the Indian Turf Invitation Cup to be held at Mahalaxmi racecourse in the first week of March next year, had not gone down too well with Captain Appoo who was in favour of directing the sponsorship to the HDIL group, another real estate giant, who, according to sources, had offered nearly twice the amount guaranteed by the Hiranandanis.

Incidentally, the Indian Turf Invitation Cup is the most high profile racing weekend in the country that is hosted by each of the five Turf Authorities of India (TAI) on a rotational basis.

Interestingly, the Hiranadanis have offered a sponsorship of rupees one crore for three grade 1 races Turf Invitation Cup, Sprinters Cup and the Stayers Cup-besides offering another Rs 30 lakh for other races on the card.

"That's not a bad sum but for an event that comes to us only once in five years, it's not a great deal either," said an RWITC member on the condition of anonymity.

RWITC chairman, Dr Cyrus Poonawalla laughed saying, "Well, let us just say that the matter is a little fluid. I suggest you keep this news pending."

Jain too would be happy if the horse did not bolt from the stable. He says, "The decision of the Committee was surely taken in the heat of the moment, but is poor reward for the huge success we have got. I have already concluded the Pune Season sponsorships for each day and I'm on the verge of making the Mumbai Season the biggest ever. My absence would surely make our sponsors unhappy. But finally it's the Committee's call. I hope a resolution will be forthcoming at our next meeting, and I'm willing to keep all differences aside, in the interest of our Club.

(With inputs from Hemal Ashar)