The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Horse : 33 meetings in Pune season

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 04, 2004

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Sport - Racing : Horse

33 meetings in Pune season

By Our Racing Correspondent

PUNE, JULY 3. The Pune racing season will get underway at the picturesque Pune race course from July 15 and will end on October 31.The season comprises 33 race meetings, including 10 special race days.

The total stakes money for the season is Rs. 4,32,35,000 as against last year's 3,57,52,500. Considering the passing of two resolutions which were put to test at the recently held Extra Ordinary General Meeting (EOGM) of the Club at Mumbai on June 22, the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) has decided to enhance the stakes to the winners of all the classes.

The second resolution passed by the members permits the club to accept Rs. 10 crore as part payment of security deposit given by the promoter for developing the racecourse land.

Now, the proposal of developing the Mumbai racecourse land from the promoter (Pegasus Clubs and Resorts Private Limited) is pending approval with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). In case the BMC does not approve the proposal, the RWITC has clearly stated in the prospectus that the stakes will remain on par with those of the Pune Meetings 2003.

"This is for the first time that I have arranged to lay the tan on the outside of the Monsoon race track, covering from 1400m to the winning post so that horses racing on the outside of the monsoon race track during the heavy rains should not hit hard on the ground," Mr. B.N. Nanjappa, the estate officer of RWITC, told The Hindu.

The attractions of the season: Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy (July 31), August Handicap (Aug. 1), Ahmed Abbas Gold Million (Aug. 8), F.D. Wadia Trophy (Aug. 15), Piaggio's Ape' Independence Trophy (Aug. 15), Turf Club Trophy (Aug. 22), Rajaram Chhatrapati Trophy (Aug. 28), Eve Champion Trophy (Aug. 29), September Handicap (Sept. 4), General Rajendrasinhji Trophy (Sept. 5), Fourth Estate Trophy (Sept. 11), Southern Command Gold Trophy (Sept. 12), S.A. Poonawalla Million (Sept. 19), Idar Gold Trophy (Sept. 26), Fillies' and Mares' Stakes (Oct. 3), October Handicap (Oct. 10), Nanoli Stud Pune Derby (Oct. 17), N.H. Dhunjibhoy Sprint Championship (Oct. 17), Suresh Mahindra Trophy (Oct. 23) and RWITC Ltd, Invitational Trophy (Oct. 31).

All the big owners who have been running their wards at other racing centres will focus on the season's plum events — the Ahmed Abbas Gold Million, the S.A. Poonawalla Million and the Nanoli Stud Pune Derby.

About 42 trainers with their 810 wards will take part in the season.

Trainer Dallas Todywalla, who missed the last Mumbai season following his suspension, will be seen saddling his charges during the season.

The horses to follow include Air Wave, Amazing Strides, Air Star, Anna Karenina, Brindisi, Connivance, Cornelia Supra, Daisy Cutter, Daughterofcharity, Dolce Vita, Euro Star, Flavius Victor, Flag Bearer, Frida Kahlo, Imola, Imogene, Interlagos, Lebombo, Madonnaofthepinks, Magic Nobility, Magical Sunset, Mehmaan, Monifieth, Petronius Maximus, Protégé, Radical Force, Rahil, Red Hot Babe, Rivendell, Secret Commotion, Secret Warrior, Sixty Seconds, Silver Tulip, Star Holme, Suleman Pasha, Warsaw Pact, War Zone, Wave Of Bliss, Wolverine and Zahra.

Racing dates: July: 15, 16, 22, 23 and 31; August: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29; September: 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26; October: 1, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29, 30 and 31.

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