History

HISTORY OF THE ARC

The Amateur Riders' Club was founded in 1942 comprising of persons who owned horses that were stabled at the Governor's bodyguards where the Regional Transport Office is presently situated at Tardeo. The Governor's bodyguard stabled as many as 75 horses which included some of the horses owned by members of the Amateur Riders' Club.

The first President was the late Sir John Beaumont and the Vice Presidents were Sir Alexander Gray and Mr. E. B. Ghaswalla with Mr. Vithal Mehta and Mr. Pravin Gandhi as the Jt. Hon. Secretaries and Mr. Vasant Banker and Mr. HH Daulat amongst the committee members.

The Bombay Hunt Club and the Amateur Riders' Club jointly conducted the first Gymkhana Races way back in 1945. Years later a stable complex was rented from H.H. The Maharaja of Gwalior. The Club acquired 4 of its own horses and since 1954 is providing equestrian facilities to its members as also training students of the Bombay Veterinary College.

In 1957 the Hon'ble late Shri Yeshawantrao B Chavan and the Hon'ble late Shri Morarjee Desai became Patrons of the Club. This very year General KS Thaimayya Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. General PN Thapar Goc-in-C Southern Command and General KM Cariappa enrolled as Patrons, besides the various royalties and Maharajas of those times.

Among the various people who played an important role in the early history of this Club were the late H.H. Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, Mr. J Doongersey, Sir Nowrosjee Wadia, Mr. Homi Vakeel, Mr. Karl Khandalawala, Dr. S. Captain, Mr. Byramji Tata and the late Mr. CC Chokshi.

Active interest in the Club was also taken by the princely order especially the late H.H. Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior, Maharaja Pratapsingh Gaikwad of Baroda; Prince Fatehsingh of Limdi, Prince Aly Khan arid H.H. Maharaja of Rajpipla. The post war developments of this Club is greatly due to the spontaneous support received from H.H. Maharaja Sir Jiwajirao Scindia of Gwalior in the form of extensive premises and stables offered to the club on Gwalior property at Worli.

The first mounted sports were held in Matheran in the summer of 1943 and since then they are being held at Mumbai every year along with Polo tournaments, Gymkhana races and other equestrian activities. The Club entered a new phase in its activities with the advent of Independence of India. After the stewardship of the first Hon. Secretary Mr. Vithal Mehta, his good work was carried on by the next Hon. Secretary Major J D Mistry who in turn passed on the reins to our Mr. Vasant Banker.

Mr. Vasant Banker was a stipendiary secretary for a considerable number of years during which time the Club grew from strength to strength both in its activities and in size. The loveable late Mr. Jimmy Bharucha then took over in 1963. The club saw even greater heights in various equestrian sports during Mr. Jimmy Bharucha's distinguished service of twenty-five years. He was followed by Col. Jalnawalla, Mr. Kamlendra Sinh and Col. YS Ahalawat. Col. T S Pandher is the current secretary having taken over in 1996.

In the initial stages the club started with just four horses of its own and today is proud to stable 25 horses of its own and another 70 horses of its members. Today the Amateur Riders' Club is amongst the premier institutions of its kind in the country. The present stable complex was occupied in January 1977 and we will always be deeply indebted too the late Mr. CC Chokshi and his Committee for making this possible. The club today is the single largest civilian equestrian body in India having a membership of about 1400 members.

The club's activities in respect of polo are entirely due to the magnanimous efforts of Col. Maharaj Premsingh, the famous international polo player who introduced this game in the club as far back as 1950. Not only did he guide the club but also supported it by his personal direction and efforts as also providing good polo ponies to the club at a very nominal price. Mr. H V Mariwala played an important role in the revival of polo during his seventies. Mr. Ramesh Mehta who succeeded him steered the club wisely by making the right investments which reaped the club financial benefits.

The young and dynamic Mr. Ajay G Piramal took the club from strength to strength and to greater glory and put it on the international map with holding the polo tournaments with international and professional players.

Mr. Ashwin Mehta a champion rider himself having a deep knowledge of horses succeeded him. In 1997 under the leadership of Mr. Adil Gandhy the club was proud to hold the National Equestrian Championships for the very first time in its history under overall supervision of our Secretary, Lt. Col. TS Pandher (Retd) and won accolades from all quarters. The present activities of the club are a tribute to the efforts of the initial band of enthusiastic riders who formed the nucleus of the club 52 years age.

The club takes pride in announcing that Mr. Imtiaz Anees a member of the club has been the only Indian who has represented the country in Three-Day Event in Sydney Olympics in 2000 and completed the course. Our junior riders have done well in National Events in their class and Aditya Ahuja won at International team Jumping Event in Europe in July 1999. The club has produced many riders who won in Nationals in Junior Class.

In January 1987 the club reached an agreement with the Royal Western India Turf Club where by training of the Apprentice Jockeys and running of the Apprentice Jockey School was taken over by the Club under the overall supervision of the Late Mr. Jimmy Bharucha. On Mr. Bharucha's demise the training has reverted to the RWITC. The ARC has been instrumental in training top jockey of RWITC.

As time changes customs, trends, fashions turn stale as the "old order changeth-yielding place to new". The Amateur Riders Club looks forward to better achievements and greater usefulness to the horse loving fraternity in the city of Mumbai.