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The RWITC has over 7000 members drawn from all sections of society. Racegoers who attend racing cover all strata of Mumbai's populace. A member of the RWITC gets reciprocal rights to visit any other race club in India and also gets entry at most race courses in the world. Its primary business is that of conducting horse racing, but it also runs a restaurant at Mumbai besides making available its three lawns for private functions. At Pune, the Club has a Club House with residential, catering and other facilities. Racing is also held in India at Kolkatta, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore, Ooty and Delhi. The RWITC associates with leading companies as sponsors for races run at its centers so as to offer higher prize money and to also make racing more attractive. Leading companies as Herbertsons, McDowell, Bombay Dyeing, HSBC, Martell, Le Meridien, Piaggio, Magnasound India - to name a few, are current sponsers. In the past, the Oberoi Group, Castrol, Sony Entertainment Television, Eveready Industries etc., sponsored races at Mumbai / Pune. A number of breeding Stud farms also sponser races in Western India. The cost of sponsership - which in effect is contribution towards the prize money of a particular race start from Rs. 2 lac upwards - depending upon the quality of the race. Additional costs would include hoardings / banners on the periphery of the race course and on-site publicity such as the winning arch, saddle cloths of the horses, horse handlers to wear gowns with the sponsored logo and associated media publicity, if any. In order to promote the day as an " event " sponsored prizes such as free tickets to various destinations or offering of consumer products could be considered. The RWITC will make available their marketing infrastructure to assist in all promotional activities.
The sponsorship package can be structured to suit individual budgets and requirements. It can be limited to just offer of promotions and prizes. The best impact is of the total sponsorship package which includes the race and prizes. An event can be hosted on the eve or on the day of the race or even while the races are in progress to give the brand maximum visibility. As broadcast goes " live " to all the major cities in India the advantage of all - India publicity at almost no incremental cost is substantiated. The RWITC offers its members lawns free of cost on the eve or on the day of the race for a function to be hosted by the sponsor. This can be any function and need not relate to racing. The members lawns at RWITC are perhaps the best venue in Mumbai and Pune with its green lawns and unrestricted parking space. The Club also provides its conference facilities for a press conference and will ensure considerable unpaid media publicity. As the race is broadcast " live " to other racing centers on their closed circuit T.V., all India coverage is ensured through the media and television at all major metros. The closed circuit T.V. during the races is also available to play any promotional video of the sponsor.
During the races the sponsor may display any product / services in display stalls. The direct average attendance on a typical Sunday would be approximately 10,000 - though if marketed and promoted well, this figure can exceed 15,000. The " off - course " attendance is several times this figure. The attendance of horse races extend to all classes of society and is not restricted only to members and their guests as there is a large public enclosure. Hence, the publicity opportunity covers a wide spectrum. Companies such
as Bombay Dyeing and the Poonawalla Group, for example, have very
successfully exploited the potential that exists by hosting a show
on the eve of the race or by other promotional efforts such as prizes,
fashion shows, etc.
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