Close to the southern bank of the Musi, off the highway to Vijayawada, is the Malakpet Race—course. It is over 100 years old. The first races were held here way back in the winter of 1879.

The Grand Pavilion, built in 1879, is an eloquent testimony to Hyderabad’s royalty, for special seats were arranged there for the sixth Nizam, an occasional visitor, and his nobles, in order of rank. Betting began in the early days and there was also a lottery.

When plague ravaged Hyderabad in 1898, horse-owners refused to send their steeds from stables in Bombay and Poona fearing the animals’ death. But things improved after a few years when a new race—course was opened in Secunderabad. Interestingly, racing was held for a few years at Maula All and the Secunderabad season was swept into the pages of history.

The present race-course at Malakpet is regarded as one of the most modern race-courses in India, with a swimming pool for exercising horses, a training school for apprentice jockeys, etc. The monsoon season, from July to October, and winter season, from November to February, are the usual racing seasons in Hyderabad.