The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Horse : Highest ever stake money for monsoon season

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 30, 2006

Sport

Sport - Racing : Horse

Highest ever stake money for monsoon season

Hyderabad: An all-time high of Rs. 4,96,33,000 is at stake for the Hyderabad monsoon season 2006, which starts on July 13 with an extra-day meeting. This amount marks a 16.77 per cent increase over last monsoon's stake money. Of this, the trophy value stands at Rs. 13,90,000 and the cash component is Rs. 4,82,43,000. With the division of races, this combined figure may top the Rs. 5 crore mark.

The prime attraction will be The Hindu Deccan Derby on Oct. 2 (Gandhi Jayanthi) that carries a prize money of Rs. 15 lakhs, registering an increase of Rs. 5 lakhs. The President of India Gold Cup has also recorded a rise of Rs. 3 lakhs from last year. There is also an increase of Rs. 1 lakh each in the A. P. Governor's Cup, the A. P. Chief Minister's Cup and the Melbourne Racing Club Trophy.

There will be 30 meetings in all. More than 470 horses including three-year-olds will participate. In addition, 191 two-year-olds stationed here will start their careers from this winter. In the fray will be 23 trainers, apart from over 10 others from outside, who will bring their wards for the Classics. Among them is M. Satyanarayana, who was assistant to L. D'Silva till recently.

About 55 jockeys will be in action during the season. According to the prospectus, Category IV races have been dropped to have more competitive racing. Category II handicaps will be upto 70, instead of 75 and Category III handicaps will be upto 50 and 30 with various conditions. Top weights at 62 kg and upper rating limits, will be the same as other clubs.

Competition will be more intense this time with many three-year-olds in peak form. The Hyderabad Race Club has made some eco-friendly innovations. Four rain water harvesting ponds were constructed last year. The copious rainfall was effectively trapped, ensuring a healthy ground water table that supplied plenty of water right through the summer this year. With the recent showers, the turf wears a lush green look. A new bund school was also started during summer. A starting gate is also likely to come up for which a new sand track will also be laid out.

Racing days: July 13, 17, 24, 31.

August 6, 7, 13, 15, 19 (Nizam's Gold Cup), 20 (A. P. Governor's Cup), 27 (DBA Fillies Trial Stakes), 28. September 3 (DBA Colts Trial Stakes), 4, 10 (President of India Gold Cup), 11, 17 (A. P. Chief Minister's Cup), 18, 24, 25. October 1 (Melbourne Racing Club Trophy), 2, 8, 9, 14, 16, 23, 25, 29 (Golconda St. Leger), 30.

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