This year, the hot favourite for the post of chairman is none other than Beer Baron Vijay Mallya. Contesting elections for the first time, Mallya chose Monday for an evening of manic partying. And even the spacious Turf Club grounds looked crowded with the number of invitees that turned up -- 1,500 cards had been sent out but there seemed to be at least double that number.

Suneeta Rao and Daler Mehndi rocked the crowds. And spirits seemed high what with McDowell's beverages soaking the bar. Dinner included a variety of cuisines from Thai and Chinese to Indian. It was estimated that this bash alone set Mallyaback by Rs 40 lakh.

While other candidates have not had such elaborate dos, frenetic lobbying is definitely on. RWITC committee member Ravi Ghai, of Natraj Hotel, has been hosting intimate dinners at home. Pune-based Vijay Shirke, who runs a construction company, has booked the Turf Club's restaurant Gallops for dinner.

Rediffusion's Arun Nanda, who lost the election last year, is hosting a dinner at the same place, next week. And Ravi Parkash, businessman and AIDs awareness campaigner, has opted to hold a cocktail and dinner party at the China Garden, this Sunday.

``It has just been a week of non-stop partying,'' says a regular racegoer, in his mid-twenties, enjoying all the attention.

Other racegoers are not so pleased. A regular on the course for over two decades finds this conspicuous consumption tacky, ``It is such a waste of money specially when you consider that the Turf club is in heavy debt.''

According to RWITC's last annual report (for the year ended June 30, 1998), the club is running ata loss of nearly Rs four crore. He tallies numbers and estimates that all the candidates will spend as much as Rs 70 lakh to win the election -- to be held on December 17. ``Wouldn't this money be better spent on the club?'' says the old-timer.

But not all aspirants to the committee are spending their money on parties. Vivek Jain hosted a small bash for his supporters and donated a large sum of money to workers of RWITC. It is expected that Jain will hold on to his seat. In fact, most incumbents do not host lavish dos.

``The idea behind these functions is for first-time candidates to get know members,'' says a racegoer.

This year, since there are several high-profile businessmen like Ghai, Mallya and Shyam Ruia, out of the total 13 contestants, standing for elections the partying has been opulent. Only nine will make it to the committee but the most tense battle by far is for the post of chairman -- between Vijay Mallya and Cyrus Poonawalla.