The Delhi High Court, in hearing a challenge to the Delhi Race Club’s (DRC) imposition of a ‘family unit’ cap limiting the number of horses owned and raced by a family, upheld the restriction aimed at preventing monopolization and ensuring race integrity. The plaintiff, owning more horses than the cap allowed, argued the rule was arbitrary, discriminatory, and lacked approval from the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), the sport’s regulatory authority. However, the Court found the restriction rational and connected to preventing race rigging, noting that the plaintiff had not utilized the RWITC’s internal appellate mechanisms designed for such disputes.

The Court also accepted that the Prospectus containing the cap was deemed approved by RWITC through longstanding practice, as no objections were raised before its use in multiple race meetings. Given these factors, the Court concluded the plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case or balance of convenience in his favor and dismissed the application for an interim injunction. The decision emphasized the regulatory bodies’ responsibility to maintain fairness in horse racing and the availability of specialized appeals under RWITC rules.