This year’s 28-day racing season is packed with sponsored races, high prize money and much more

Pune race course is galloping into big league

Pune’s 28-day racing season began on the right track in many ways on Thursday. The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) has spent Rs 3 crore for re-laying the track that has been re-laid and multi-layered to convert it into a monsoon track. “We have taken care of the minute details,” said RWITC chairman Vivek Jain. The work of laying the six-layered track with proper cambering began in November 2013 and was completed a couple of months back. Fresh irrigation pipelines have been installed at the course. The other renovations include refurbishing the spanking new VIP lounge, improved signages and electronic display boards, besides carving out 6,000 sq ft for the first enclosure for audience. The judge’s box will also be moved higher, closer to the private boxes, giving ample viewing space for members near the winning post. A large LED screen will also be placed across the track. “The prize money payout is expected at about Rs 11.5 crore, and probably the highest for a monsoon racing centre in India. The performance incentive payable to owners at 30 per cent is now also payable to fourth placed horses. The payout will be over Rs 2 crore on the enhanced stakes sanctioned last year. The RWITC remains most appreciative of its contributors and partners who add a special dimension to the sport,” said Jain. Among the other races, the ‘Nanoli Stud Pune Derby’ and the ‘Signature Premier Indian St Leger’ will continue as Pune’s Grade 1 races. The Pune Derby has become synonymous with Nanoli Stud who would be sponsoring Western India’s first classic for the new crop for the record 18 years in a row. The Dhunjibhoy family will, as, always, sponsor the Sprint Million on the same day, as an added bonus. The Derby weekend will also feature the popular Oktoberfest for the fifth year. The Indian St. Leger will give an added dimension and is sponsored by RWITC’s biggest contributor, the UB Group, with 2.1 million in added money. The race would be the run on the last Sunday of September. The prize money is highest in India of all monsoon races which take place at Mysore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Over 20 races, including the Pune Derby and Indian St. Leger will carry a minimum prize of Rs 1 million. The minimum prize money for Grade 3 races has shot up to Rs 1.5 million and Rs 2 million in Grade 2.