A Season of Millions in the offing - By Shailendra Awasthi ITNN
Posted on - 15 Jul 2011
A Season of Millions in the offing
By Shailendra Awasthi
Times News Network
Pune: The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) announced on Thursday that the 27-day long season, which begins July 21, will have a record eight million races.
Vivek Jain, the chairman of the RWITC highlighted several new highs of the upcoming season. Here are some of them:
Record stakes money: About Rs 7.38 crore will be given in prize money this season which is 7.5 per cent higher than the last season.
Sponsorships: The RWITC has reached a new landmark in contributions from the sponsors in a Pune season. Sponsors will contribute Rs 1.3 crore this season which sees an increase of 25 per cent.
Entertaining weekends: Almost every weekend will have a sponsored race which will have lots more glamour and goodies for the racegoers in the form of contest of skills and various prizes.
Indian St. Leger: Indian St. Leger, the fifth Classic of the Mumbai Season will now return to Pune from this season. It was shifted to Mumbai in early 90s. The race, to be held on September 25, will be the biggest draw of the season in terms of the quality racing.
New stabling facility: With the number of horses rising from about 1200 to a record 1400 for this season, the RWITC has hired a stable at Sopan Baug to cater for the increased number of horses.
Trainers and Jockeys: About 45 trainers and 55 jockeys will be in fray in the upcoming season.
Live telecast on ET Now: The McDowell Indian St. Leger and the Nanoli Stud Pune Derby will be shown live on ET Now.
Upgraded infrastructures: The track and paddock railings will soon be upgraded to improve the safety and look of the racecourse.
Important Races: Khushro K Jalnawala Turf Club Trophy and Havovi Juvenile Million (August 7); F D Wadia Trophy and Eves Champion Trophy (August 14); PRA Independence Million (August 15); Panchshil Juvenile Million (August 21); Rajendrasinhji Million (August 27); Southern Command Gold Trophy (September 4); Idar Gold Trophy (September 10); S A Poonawalla Poonawalla Group Multi-Million (September 18); McDowell Indian St Leger (September 25); Nanoli Stud Pune Derby (October 9); Goffs Salver (October 15); Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Million (October 16); RWITC. Ltd Oxford Properties Gold Cup (October 22).
The schedule:
July: 21, 22, 28 and 29.
August: 6, 7, 14, 15, 20, 21, 27 and 28.
September: 3, 4, 9, 10, 17, 18, 24 and 25.
October: 1, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22.
