Race Course Shift To Kunigal: What Happens To Bengaluru’s 83-Acre Green Space?

Last Updated:February 13, 2026, 12:25 IST

The Bangalore Turf Club was formally established in 1920, and the race course evolved into one of India’s prominent racing venues.

In the middle of Bengaluru’s dense urban grid, the green stretch along Race Course Road has long stood as a reminder of another era. For over a century, the Bengaluru Turf Club grounds have hosted horse racing seasons, elite gatherings and one of the city’s most enduring sporting traditions. That landscape is now set to change.

On February 12, 2026, the Karnataka Cabinet approved the relocation of the Bengaluru Turf Club (BTC) to the historic Kunigal Stud Farm in Tumakuru district, ending years of uncertainty over the future of the High Grounds race course.

A Racing Legacy Rooted in the Colonial Era

Horse racing in Bengaluru dates back to the late 1800s during the British cantonment period. The Bangalore Turf Club was formally established in 1920, and the race course evolved into one of India’s prominent racing venues. Even as the city expanded around it, the track remained a rare open expanse in the central business district.

The Cabinet has approved leasing 110 acres and 20 guntas at the Kunigal Stud Farm to the turf club. The lease will run for an initial 29 years, with provision for a further 29-year extension.

Kunigal Stud Farm, one of India’s oldest horse-breeding centres with origins tracing back to Tipu Sultan’s era, will become the new hub for racing operations. The club has been given a strict two-year deadline to complete the shift.

Under the new arrangement, BTC will pay an annual lease amount equivalent to 2.5 percent of the land’s guidance value.

In addition, the club must deposit 2 percent of its annual income from 2010 onwards with the Public Works Department. The penalty addresses revenue losses incurred due to non-revision of lease payments during the dispute period.

What Happens to the Race Course Land

While the turf club will vacate the racing track, it will retain 4 acres of the current 83-acre premises. This portion houses the heritage office building and clubhouse, allowing administrative and social functions to remain in the city centre.

The remaining approximately 79 acres will be preserved as a public lung space, ensuring continued green cover in central Bengaluru.

A City in Transition

The relocation reflects a broader shift in Bengaluru’s urban priorities — balancing heritage, environmental needs and land use pressures. Racing will move to Kunigal, but a small footprint will remain on Race Course Road, preserving the club’s legacy while opening a vast green space for public use.

For Bengaluru, the decision marks both the end of a historic sporting chapter and the beginning of a new urban landscape.

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