Sport - Racing : Horse

Pune racing from July 24

Pune:The Pune monsoon racing season will commence from July 24 and will end on October 25, 2008. Fortysix Western India trainers and 66 jockeys will participate. As the city has not experienced good rains this time, it may be difficult to maintain the track conditions.

Mr. Vivek Jain, Chairman, Marketing & Media Working Group, RWITC, while addressing the press conference on Tuesday said that " this year’s stakesmoney for 29 days is Rs. 6,13,35,000 an increase of 15%. We have obtained sponsorships for the second year in a row, on each weekend of racing and the gross contribution is about 80 lacs, is an all time record."

He also said that " the top race of the season remains the Nanoli Stud Pune Derby. Nanoli has increased their contribution to 20 lakhs and the total stakes of over 50 lakhs."

"The traditional richest race for older horses, the RWITC Invitational Trophy is rechristened as RWITC Ltd. Gold Cup with guaranteed stakes of 1 million, sponsored by Oxford Group, " Mr. Jain stated.

Following are the important races:

Lufthansa August Handicap (Aug.3), Solaris Group Turf Club Trophy (Aug.10), PRA Independence Trophy (Aug.15), PRA Sprint Stakes (Aug.16), F.D.Wadia Trophy (Aug.17), Piaggio ape’ Eve Champion Trophy (Aug.24), General Rajendrasinhji Trophy (Aug.30), Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy (Aug.30), Goel Ganga Developments Million (Aug.31), DNA Trophy (Sept.6), Southern Command Gold Trophy (Sept. 7), S.A.Poonawalla Million (Sept.14), Idar Gold Trophy (Sept. 20), Chantilli Challenge (Sept.21), Panchshill Million (Sept.28), Johnnie Walker Gold Label Fillies’ & Mares Stakes (Oct.5), Johnnie Walker Green Label Salver (Oct.5), Nanoli Stud Pune Derby (Oct.12), Pune Premium Million (Oct.19) and Oxford Properties R.W.I.T.C Ltd Gold Cup (Oct. 25).

Dates of racing:

July: 24 and 25. August: 2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31. Sept. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28. Oct.: 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 24 and 25.

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