Pune turf beckons again

File photo

The western India railbird waits for the Pune monsoon racing season as eagerly as the mythical Chataka bird does for the first raindrop from the skies. The wait is finally over as the Pune monsoon racetrack gets ready to take the pounding of horse hooves for the next four months.

This Friday (July 17), the Pune racecourse will spring back to life, and play host to 30 professional horse trainers and more than 50 jockeys, who will parade their skills in training and riding more than 800 horses, of which nearly 280 will be two-year-old juveniles, looking forward to make their debut.

The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) has slated a 21-race-day extravaganza which will end on November 15, upholding Pune's reputation as one of India's most prestigious and elegant racing fixtures, where speed, strategy, and sheer thoroughbred class will be on display in a pleasant and perfect monsoon setting.

During the four months of action, the season will offer more than Rs 14 Crore as stakes money. The Indian St Leger (Sep 20) and the Villoo C. Poonawalla Pune Derby (Oct 11), both grade 1 races, will be the crown jewels of the season, the latter will carry a purse of over Rs 1 crore, thanks to Dr Cyrus and his son Adar Poonawalla's generous contribution.

Key highlights include a plethora of grade 3 events, starting with the Eve Champion Trophy (Aug 2), Yohan Z Poonawalla Turf Club Trophy (Aug 8), FD Wadia Trophy (Aug 16), Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million (Aug 29), SA Poonawalla Million (Sep 13) and Threptin Fillies' & Mares' Stakes (Oct 2). Other star attractions will be the Memorial Million races named after late trainer Altaf Hussain (Aug 2), Teena Katrak (Independence Million, Aug 15) and Mayor Baburao Sanas (Oct 18). The only grade 2 race of the season, Burgundy Mantra Luxury Line RWITC Ltd. Trophy, will be run on the final day, November 15.

With the ratio of racehorses to race days being close to 40:1, the cards are expected to be well-filled and competitive on most days. Off the track, Pune Cartel will add carnival flair with entertainment on select days, blending sporting thrill with high fashion on the lawns in the members' enclosure.

The Pune racing season schedule:
July: Fri, 17th; Fri, 24th.
August: Sun, 2nd; Sat, 8th; Sat, 15th; Sun, 16th; Sat, 22nd; Sat, 29th.
September: Sun, 6th; Sat, 12th; Sun, 13th; Sun, 20th; Sun, 27th.
October: Fri, 2nd; Sat, 10th; Sun, 11th (Derby); Sun, 18th; Thu, 22nd; Sat, 31st.
November: Thu, 5th; Sun, 15th.