The 2011 Kingfisher Bangalore Derby (Gr1) is poised to topple the rich stakes that the McDowell Signature Indian Derby (Gr1) is known to offer and claim the honours of becoming the richest race in the country, thanks to as many as three late entries expected at a whopping fee of Rs 16,00,000 each. If that happens, the total stakes would easily cross the Rs 2.28-crore mark of the McDowell Signature Indian Derby, hitherto perched at the top. Whichever way it goes, the 24th edition of the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby is worth all the hype and hoopla and with a healthy line-up going to the post, this race is certain to generate unprecedented euphoria in the garden city.

The lead-up to the Derby Kingfisher Bangalore Derby has begun. The fanfare and the high-octane promotional activities will soon start gripping ‘Bangaloreans’. The big race has universally been acknowledged as one of the city’s favourite events and the crowds are expected to burst at the seams of the rather cramped Grand Stands of the Bangalore racecourse. A maddening crowd of well over 22,000 is expected to make a beeline to the Bangalore racecourse, to witness the topmost Classic run at Bangalore, second only to the Indian Derby!

The traditional handing over of the famous and most sought-after ‘Derby Trophy’ took place in the paddock on Sunday last. Mr Samar Singh Shekhawat, VP, Marketing, Kingfisher Beer Division, has handed over the ‘Silver Horse’ trophy to Mr Kumarswamy, Chairman of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) in the paddock, just before the running of the Maharaja’s Cup. “We started our association with the BTC way back in 1988 and this has been one special event that we are proud to be associated with. The specially hand-crafted silver trophy is even better this year, valued at Rs 200,000. This is a moment of historic significance,” said Mr Shekhawat as he unveiled the trophy along with Mr Kumarswamy and budding starlet Ms Andrita Ray.

Mr Kumaraswamy in his speech thanked the humongous contribution of Dr Vijay Mallya and the Kingfisher division of the UB Group. “On behalf of the Club, I thank Dr Vijay Mallya for his continued support over the years and I am sure this association will grow further in the coming years. The racing public, along with a large number of non-regulars, are expected to number over 25,000 and to appreciate their participation, the BTC has decided to give away attractive prizes in a contest of skill open to the public. A bumper prize of a Hyundai i10 car will be the main attraction. A list of many other prizes will be awarded for the correct nomination of the first four placing of the Kingfisher Bangalore Derby,” declared Mr Kumaraswamy.

“This is an amazing experience and my first visit to the races at Bangalore has been exciting. I have heard a lot of the thrill of the sport and getting to witness this first hand is an altogether different experience. I can see the love for horses and I can’t stop myself getting hooked to the sport. It is indeed a privilege to be here at this historic moment,” said Ms Aindrita Ray, a youthful star in the making, looking every bit of a striking beauty endorsing the glamour quotient that Kingfisher is known to provide for the sport of the kings.

A series of promotional activities will now unfold all over the city. To start with, following the trophy hand over, a cricket tournament comprising four teams will be played this afternoon (6th July, 2011) at the RSI grounds on MG Road. Kingfisher XI, Trainers & Jockeys combine, Owners team and a Media team will participate in the limited-over tourney.

Friday (8th July, 2011) evening will see the connections of the horses participating in the Kingfisher Derby playing a part in their horses’ destiny by picking up the draw for their runners themselves. Cine Star Soha Ali Khan is expected to be the Guest of Honour for this event. Following the draw, Casino Royale will entertain the guests with a host of casino gaming tables to give everyone present a feel of their top-of-the-line Casino located off-shores along the coast line of Goa. The evening will showcase some deft dance floor movements by an exquisite group of Russian dancers specially flown in to enthrall the guests. Each guest will also be handed casino chips and every winning hand will take home attractive gifts to mark the day. Cocktails and snacks will be flowing freely all through the evening, as is the norm of every Kingfisher party, with foot-tapping music to match the mood.

To attract the gen-next, a host of activities like the ‘Horse Shoe Pitching’ contest will be held at popular shopping Malls across Bangalore. Pub nights will see simulated horse races shown on the CCTVs at select Pubs and those in the pubs who correctly predict the winners in the mock races will win special invites to the UB Stands as Dr Mallya’s guests on D Day. Both these activities over the last couple of years have seen enthusiastic participation by curious youngsters and elders alike. This brings scores of new faces to the racecourse which is a healthy sign for the sport.

The Bangalore Derby was first run over a mile in 1962. It has grown in popularity and has been a dominant crowd-puller. The fight-to-the-finish for this prestigious race is what sends the adrenalin shooting through. The tightest of all finishes was when Mauritius Pearl and Skyline dead-heated to win the prize. There was also an odd occasion when all the horses participating in the Derby were ridden by apprentice jockeys! The main jockeys had gone on a strike, hence the runners were partnered by apprentice jockeys only. Ranjit V Bhat-owned Manitou from the stables of legendary trainer RR Byramji won that race in the hands of PS Bhonsle, father of current saddle ace B Prakash.

There also was a solitary occasion when the Bangalore Derby was postponed due to heavy downpour. Minstrella, owned by Dr MAM Ramaswamy, won the race at a later date, Robin Cornor guiding her to a facile victory. For the superstitious, horses with names starting with the alphabet ‘S’ have been more successful in the Kingfisher Derby. Dr Vijay Mallya’s Speed Six can take confidence from this fact. Will he step up the ‘S’ factor?

The countdown has begun. The biggest horseracing extravaganza is within touching distance. Promotion of the event is shifting to top gear. The horses themselves are in ‘fine-tuning’ mode. Around a dozen and a half equine aspirants will line up at the starting gates and as they rush to take the final turn, the crescendo of roaring vocal chords is sure to echo across the city, with each of the 25,000 strong crowd screaming for his/her pick to put it past the rest! That’s Kingfisher Bangalore Derby – the richest race of all times ever run on the Bangalore turf! If you miss being at the Bangalore Racecourse on Sunday 10th July 2011, you can catch the live action on TV at ET Now.