The Royal Calcutta Turf Club will be ushering in a new era in the history of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup this weekend. Not will this one be the richest two days ever in the annals of the Invitation Cup but it will also be the first time ever that the format of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup is being changed. Now, it will be run more on the lines of the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps where older horses are permitted to run to settle the issue of the best-of-the-best once and for all. RCTC, the oldest and senior most of the five turf authorities, has the honour and the distinction of hosting the same in its new avatar on Sunday, March 3.

The total stake money on offer Indian racing’s most prestigious weekend works out to a whopping total of Rs 3.77 crore (including trophy value) . A total of 18 races, with 199 horses and some extraordinary riding talent from across the globe will be on view.

As has always been the case, the four Grade I races, namely the Oasis Sprinters Cup, The Stayers Cup, The Indian Turf Invitation Cup and The Major PK Mehra Super Mile Cup, will be the highlights of this very special weekend. There will another Grade III affair in the form of the Suresh Mahindra Multi-Million Trophy.

After the running of each of the four major events, one or more of these trophies given below will be presented to the leading performers of the past year 2011-12.

Leading Owner: Dr.MAM Ramaswamy

Leading Trainer: R. Foley

Leading Jockey: PS Chouhan                                                           

Leading Stud Farm: Poonawalla Group of Studs

Horse of the Year (after Invitation Cup): In The Spotlight

After the running of The Invitation Cup, a ‘lifetime achievement award’ will be presented to Mr R Surender Reddy , Chairman of Hyderabad Race Club.

RCTC also takes this opportunity to thank its many sponsors – Turf Authorities of India, Bookmakers Association of Calcutta, Calcutta Race Horse Owners Society, Captain Jamshed J Appoo, Mr Marthand Singh Mahindra, Olympia Tech Park, Rohan Lifescapes, Sans Craintes Stud Farms Pvt Ltd, Shapoorji Pallonji and Co Ltd, Ultimo Stud farms Pvt Ltd, Usha Stud and Agricultural farms Pvt Ltd and Yeravada Stud and Agricultural Farm.