Mumbai horse racing season to begin on November 18

Mumbai, Nov 14 (UNI) The Mumbai horse racing season will get underway from November 18 with 43 days of racing spread over six months at the Mahalaxmi Race Course.

Vivek Jain, Chairman of the Marketing Working Group of Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) told reporters today that the season will be packed with exciting features which will showcase some of the best thoroughbreds in the country.

The season will start with the Poonawalla's, who this year will add a new feature to Indian racing by introducing the 'Super Sunday', which will be held on November 27, the Poonwalla Stud Farms will sponsor three races, the 'Mystical International Sprinters' Trophy, the 'Mystical International Stayers' Trophy and the 'Mystical Super Mile' Trophy with the 'Ardeshir' Trophy (Grade 2) to make it eventful.

Mr Jain also said that the gross advertised prize money of Rs 10.73 crores over the 43 days of racing is the highest stake ever paid for a single season of racing in India.

He further informed that the McDowell Indian Derby weekend will be fully sponsored by United Spirits, with the Indian Derby to be the richest race ever run in India with prize money in excess of Rs 1.1 crores.

The other innovations this year include, Mr Jain said, several new million races, including several for older horses, an international sponsorship from Las Vegas and a carnival day honouring wonder horse Mystical.

UNI