Bengaluru Turf Club to shift racing to Kunigal: Govt clears 110 acres, two-year deadline set

After years of uncertainty, the Karnataka Cabinet approves relocation of racing activities from the century-old BTC premises to Kunigal Stud Farm, paving the way for a new green lung space in central Bengaluru.

After years of prolonged deliberations and legal-political tussles, the Karnataka government has finally approved the relocation of horse racing activities from the historic Bengaluru Turf Club (BTC) premises in the heart of the city to Kunigal Stud Farm, about 60 kilometres from Bengaluru.

The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting held on Thursday, bringing clarity to a long-pending issue surrounding the future of the more-than-a-century-old racing facility located at High Grounds. As per the decision, 110 acres of land at Kunigal Stud Farm will be granted to BTC to develop a new racing track and shift all racing operations there.

Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said that BTC has been given a strict two-year deadline to vacate the existing premises and complete the shift. He added that once the relocation is complete, the current turf club land in central Bengaluru will be developed into a major public lung space.

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Under the approved plan, the land at Kunigal will be provided to BTC on a lease period of 29 years, with a provision for extension by another 29 years. The lease amount will be calculated at 2.5% of the guidance value of the land, applicable both for the 110-acre Kunigal site and the four acres that BTC will retain in Bengaluru.

The government has allowed BTC to keep four acres of the existing premises, which houses a heritage building and essential infrastructure needed to run the club’s administrative activities. The Minister said that this decision was taken to preserve the heritage structure and support limited club operations.

The Bengaluru Turf Club was originally granted 83 acres of land in 1923 by the then Maharaja of Mysore. However, the lease expired in 2009. Since then, successive governments have repeatedly urged the club to vacate the valuable land located in the city centre. The prolonged standoff resulted in several disruptions, including cancellation of races during peak seasons.

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After extended negotiations, BTC finally agreed in October 2025 to shift racing operations to Kunigal Stud Farm, clearing the way for Thursday’s Cabinet approval. The latest decision now formally sets the timeline and terms for the relocation, ending years of uncertainty over the future of the historic turf club.