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A Lucrative Pune Season is upon Us

By North-End | 23 Jul 2008 | PUNE


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The Pune Racing Season is all set to renew course battles and restart an interesting build–up for the main Mumbai season which soon follows. The season, as last year, is of 29 days and offers record prize money. The total advertised stakes of Rs 613.35 lakh sees an increase of 15% on last year. Like in Mumbai, the marketing team, under the chairmanship of Mr. Vivek Jain, has yet again managed to have every weekend race day to be a sponsored one. The gross contribution from the sponsors is all-time high and an impressive 25% higher than last year. These include new sponsors as well and the season's biggest race will be the running of the Nanoli Stud Pune Derby. Nanoli Stud Farm has increased its contribution to Rs 20 lakh and the total stakes for the Pune Derby is expected to exceed the half crore mark. For the first time, as many as six races for juveniles will offer prize money of Rs 10 lakh and over. Races for 2 year-olds have been re-introduced and this will give the debutants crucial racing experience before embarking in Mumbai. For the first time at Pune, a 10% performance incentive will be paid to owners. In addition, the general level of stakes in handicaps has been increased by 5% and some costs for owners have been subsidized. The stakes in graded races have been given a boost to attract best horses from all over the country. The richest race for older horses will be the newly christened RWITC Ltd. Gold Cup with guaranteed stakes of Rs 1 million. It will be sponsored by Oxford. The DNA Trophy will be run in the first week of September. DNA is the new media partner for the RWITC and will offer promotional advertising every weekend throughout the season. CNBC TV 18 will profile four of the season's topmost events in four special editions as a precursor to the live telecast from the Mumbai Season. As an innovative concept, the Oxford Group will host The O Racing Awards to honour the season's champions at an exclusive ceremony at the O Hotel on the last Saturday of October. The hospitality group is also offering a special deal for members of the club and sponsors. For the racing enthusiasts, each weekend will bring in prizes, entertainment and food courts. That would showcase the Club as the leader in promoting racing as a lifestyle sport.