The Mysore Regular Racing Season has a lot of new attractions. The 20-day programme should make for an exciting season. There has been a steep hike in the stake money, with the total advertised stakes being Rs. 3,78,52,000 but it is expected to swell to Rs 5 crores due to divisions and sweepstake races. The club has been able to rope in a couple of new sponsors and two new sweepstakes races should substantially enhance the season. The Maharaja’s Cup has been given a boost, with the guaranteed stake money of Rs 10 lakh. The stakes offered during this season is the second best in the country after Bangalore Turf Club.

The season starts on Thursday, August 23 and concludes on October 28, with the running of the Gr 1 Poonawalla Mysore Derby. The first of the star events of the season namely the Mysore Million, will be held on the second day of the season.

The Maharaja’s Cup which will be run over a mile, is for four year olds and over and is expected to attract top horses due to the hike in stakes. The new attraction of the season is the running of the Mysore Dasara Sprint Championship. This sweepstakes 1200-metre race is for 3 year old and above for which Rs. 10,00,000 is the prize money offered by the Mysore Race Club Limited.

The other sweepstakes races namely the Governor’s Gold Cup, the H.H. Sri. Krishnaraja Wadiyar Memorial Gold Cup, the H.H. Sri Chamaraja Wadiyar Memorial Gold Cup, will carry Rs. 4,00,000 as the prize money.

The Daisy Appo Cup sponsored by Capt. Jamshed J Appoo is for three-year olds and will be run over seven furlongs. The Mysore 1000 Guineas is sponsored by the Karnataka Racehorse Owners’ Association and they have hiked sponsorship by Rs. 1 lakh from this year. M/s Maheshore Heritage Palaces, Resorts & Spas P. Ltd. is sponsoring Mysore 2000 Guineas with a contribution of Rs. 4 lakhs.

The Poonawalla Group has continued its association with the Derby and they have also increased the sponsorship by Rs 1 lakh. Apart from the sponsorship money of Rs 11 lakhs, the club also added an equal amount and the Derby winner gets a handsome prize as the total stake money is going to swell significantly due to entry money.

The Mysore Winter and Summer Season have been highly successful, with big punter turn out and the collections at the tote too have been healthy as a result. This shows the confidence that the public has in Mysore racing. The tote recorded a turnover of Rs.132 lakhs on the last day of the Mysore Summer Season which even surpassed last year’s Derby day collections. 

Investment at totalizators is growing day by day and the average collection per day during Mysore Summer Races 2007 was 80 lakhs.

The Government of Karnataka has given a lease of 15 acres of land close to the race course where we intend to build stables, in conformity with the present day requirements. The club is in the process of getting designs from international firms. The proposal is to build about 1000 stables with a modern equine swimming pool and a well equipped equine hospital.

The Stewards of the Club have always been acting in the best interest of the sport and have acted tough to protect the integrity of the sport. I would like to reiterate that the club will not compromise on these issues and act without fear or favour.

The club has undertaken renovation of the Grand Stand but unfortunately the work could not be completed in time for the commencement of the season. However, I assure that the same will be ready well before the Mysore Derby. The facilities for punters would be top class when all the works initiated are completed.

I also thank the Bangalore Turf Club Limited for its continued support & co-operation in racing.

Mr.Kanthraj Urs is the Chairman of Mysore Race Club