After a lull of a little over four months, action returns to Hyderabad with the Monsoon season scheduled to begin on Wednesday, 22^nd July 2009.  A total stakes of nearly seven Crores of rupees has been offered for the advertised twenty eight days of racing. A welcome shower on the night of Monday measuring about 12 mm has done a lot of good to the track and the going is expected to be good on the opening day.

Hyderabad Race Club has acceded to the request of the Turf Authorities of India to hold the The Indian Turf Invitation Cup races during the season. The big day will be on Sunday, 25^th October 2009. It will be a one day affair with the Invitation Cup, Stayers Cup, Sprinters Cup and the Super Mile to be run on the same day. It is also reliably learnt that the other races of the day may be Sweepstakes races. The Indian Breeders Association has agreed to chip in Rupees Seventy Five lakhs which would match the Turf Authority’s contribution, to make sure that the 2009 edition goes through successfully. India Race appreciates the move of the Hyderabad Race Club and thanks the committee for providing this great opportunity to the race goers.

The Golconda Textiles Deccan Derby will be run on 2^nd October as is the custom. The other sweepstakes races to be run during the season are The Fillies Trial Stakes (30^th Aug.), The Colts Trial Stakes (6^th Sept.), The President of India Gold Cup (13^th Sept.), The Golconda St.Leger (19^th Oct.), The Nizam’s Gold Cup (16^th Aug.), The A.P.Governor’s Cup (23^rd Aug.), The A.P.Chief Minister’s Cup (20^th Sept.) and The Melbourne Racing Club Trophy (4^th Oct.). With the outstation horses allowed to run in these races, one will get to see the best from across the country take the turf at Malakpet.

Trainer Leo D’Silva who has remained on top during monsoon seasons, from the time he has taken to training in the year 1991 will be a clear favourite again. Jockey Harish is expected ride for this stable. K.S.V.Prasad Raju with a good string will give D’Silva a run for his money. The Goldie Brown brigade represented by K.Satheesh is also expected to put in a good show with Jockey Imran Khan continuing to don the silks. With Suraj Narredu likely to be seen more at Pune, the jockey’s championship may well be a fight between Harish and Imran. Nitin Singh who graduated to be a full jockey during winter may well add some spice to the championship.