THE POONAWALA GROUP, whose name has been synonymous with horse racing in the country for decades, has announced its decision to sponsor the Indian Derby for the next four years, starting 2026.
Free Press Journal reports that the Indian Derby has been supported over the decades most notably by United Breweries (UB) Group / United Spirits Limited (USL) in the mid-1980s, followed by the McDowell Indian Derby, which became synonymous with the race for nearly 40 years until 2022. In 2023, however, the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) conducted the Derby without a title sponsor due to restrictions on liquor advertising.
For the record, the Indian Derby was first held in 1943, a clear pointer to how intrinsically linked it has been to the history of Indian horse racing.
