A century-old legacy to move: Inside Bengaluru’s big racecourse relocation plan

After decades of legal uncertainty over the fate of the iconic racecourse land in central Bengaluru, the Bangalore Turf Club is now set to relocate to Kunigal following a recent Cabinet approval by the Government of Karnataka.

The decision paves the way for racing activities to shift to a new site in Kunigal, bringing fresh clarity to a dispute that dates back to a 2010 ruling by the High Court of Karnataka directing the club to vacate the existing premises after the expiry of its lease.

With relocation timelines now under discussion, questions remain over how the historic Race Course Road land will be redeveloped and what the move means for the future of horse racing in the state.

The history of the land

The erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore granted a total of 83 acres and 14 guntas of land to the Bangalore Turf Club on September 9, 1923, to support horse racing competitions. This land was later leased to the club by the Public Works Department (PWD). The lease expired on December 31, 2009.

The annual rent paid by the Bangalore Turf Club at the end of the lease period was Rs 25.94 lakh. In September 2008, the government ordered the cancellation of the lease and the repossession of the entire parcel of land, and suggested identifying a suitable location on the outskirts of the city for the club to establish a new racecourse.

In March 2010, the High Court of Karnataka granted the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) six months to vacate the racecourse land, setting a deadline of September 22, 2010. It directed the BTC to pay Rs 5 lakh per month to the state government from the date the lease period
expired.

The court barred the Turf Club from carrying out any construction that would be detrimental to the area’s ecology and environment. It also asked the state government to ensure that the area was used by the Turf Club only for permitted activities during this six-month period, in accordance with the law.

However, due to pending court cases and other issues, this did not happen, though negotiations continued.

Sources said the BTC wanted to retain four acres of land, including key structures such as the heritage building and clubhouse, at the current site. However, the PWD, under whose jurisdiction the land falls, rejected the proposal. The department maintained that if a heritage building existed on the land, it would be government property, and therefore, the request could not be accepted.

Due to the ongoing litigation, the rent for the 83 acres and 14 guntas in the city centre was not revised thereafter. The Bangalore Turf Club continued to pay the annual rent of Rs 25.94 lakh, which the government considered a loss.

Sources said the PWD had calculated that if rent were charged at 2% of the institution’s total annual income, the Club would have owed Rs 39.45 crore for the period from January 1, 2010, to March 31, 2021. The recent Cabinet meeting has finally ended the uncertainty surrounding the issue, but probably four acres of land will stay with the BTC.

Many more years to go

“The government had assured us 109 acres of land in Kunigal and asked us to start shifting. We called for a general body meeting in October and passed a resolution to shift,” L Shivashankar, Chairman and Senior Steward of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) Ltd, told DH.

On February 12, a Cabinet meeting approved the leasing of land near Kunigal.

“Here (in the current location), they are offering four acres to us. It is still under negotiation. After everything is finalised, we will have to file a compromise settlement petition before the Supreme Court and amicably resolve the issue,” he said.

“We would need at least three years after the land is leased to us in Kunigal. We will need two years to reset and prepare the course. Until such time, racing will continue at the present premises,” Shivashankar explained.

“A racecourse is not just greenery. Beneath the turf, different types of soil layers are required. A racehorse weighs a minimum of 450 kilograms, so the impact is heavy. The soil must be firm, and the track needs time to settle. We use different types of soil — red soil, clay, sand — about five or six varieties. Then, grass is grown over it to create natural turf. Buildings, original stables, and all facilities will also be constructed there. We need two to three years to do this. Planning has not fully begun yet. Once the government order is issued, we will call professionals from abroad to design the layout,” he said.

“This means that racing will continue for another three years, after which the club will be shifted. The demolition of existing structures and the development of the land as a tree park or lung space will take a few more years. By 2035, we can probably hope for something substantial,” said an urban planner who preferred to remain anonymous.

What should come up
on the racecourse land?

Around 2012, some sections of the government floated the idea of constructing a huge multi-storey building on the Turf Club land. However, this was rejected by the public, with many eminent citizens writing to the government, urging it to shelve any such plans.

“There should definitely be a renewed effort to ensure that the land does not immediately become a construction site,” said Ammu Joseph, a journalist who was part of a group that wrote to the government at the time.

Rizwan Arshad, MLA of the Shivajinagar constituency under which the Race Course land falls, said the decision to shift the Turf Club from the heart of the city to the outskirts was a bold step in the right direction.

“It’s an invaluable asset for the city. I strongly feel the land should be designated as a lung space to increase green cover. It should be a space for people to come together. It should not be utilised for any developmental activities,” he said.

“Even if four acres of land are retained by the Bangalore Turf Club and another eight to nine acres go to the High Court complex, the rest should be reserved as a lung space. It could become another Cubbon Park,” he added.

“As a legislator of the area, I am very clear, and I will advocate for it,” he declared.

Since it is still early, the government does not appear to have consulted stakeholders about the future use of the land. However, Arshad said he has conveyed his views to the government, and that it appears to be thinking along similar lines.

Naresh Narasimhan, an architect based in the city, said the land should be developed as an ecological commons. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Bengaluru. Eighty-plus acres in the city’s core cannot become another real estate play. For decades, this land has been visually central yet socially inaccessible. Ten years from now, it should function as Bengaluru’s great democratic landscape — a climate buffer, biodiversity park, and civic gathering ground,” he said.

“Of the 80 acres, about 10 acres could accommodate a new, future-ready High Court complex. The remaining 70 acres should become Karnataka Udyanavana — a biodiversity park dedicated to the state’s indigenous flora,” he added.

The demand gains significance because the city has been losing its green cover fast. According to data, parks and open spaces account for approximately only 2.58% of the city’s developed area, which includes 1,288 public parks. The city’s recorded forest cover stood at about 89.6 sq km in 2023.