Despite the fact that the Madras Race Club (MRC) has reduced the stakes for the forthcoming Udhagamandalam racing season, scheduled to start on April, 14 by more than 25 percent, the new season at the Blue Mountains is certain to generate maximum interest in the horse racing circles.

After successfully hosting the Indian Turf Invitation Cup in Guindy, MRC in its bid to be back on the premium fold has opened up, inviting the trainers and owners to race at the Nilgiris and a couple of trainers from Bengaluru have confirmed participation in classics and a couple of premium plums in the season.  

Never mind the stakes, we want to promote and support the sport and we will race a few of our good horses to help put MRC on the new high road disclosed an owner while lauding the effort of  MRC chairman, R Ramakrishnan popularly known as RK.

Immensely pleased with the response, the MRC committee is leaving no stone unturned in their effort to provide ship-shape track though the lack of rains in Ooty has thrown a spanner in the wheel.

“We offered license to seven trainers and 55 stables and I’m delighted to learn that five trainers from Bengaluru and a couple from Mysore will be here to compete in the big plums this season,” said RK.

When pointed out that the reduced stakes may well put the brakes on the outstation trainers and owners, the MRC chairman clarified that the committee in its bid to cut costs first decided to reduce the number of racing days before taking stock and reducing  stakes only on classics and juvenile races.  The stakes are still good and I’m hopeful we will get good participation from other centres, “said RK.

The Board Of Appeal chairman, K Ganapathy revealed that apart from track and racing, the committee is working to build up the tote at Ooty and that costs money.

“We understand that we need to attract people to the tote and that’s where the revenue lies and we are installing a number of tote counters and the required equipment to facilitate tote betting,” said K Ganapathy   pointing out that a big portion of the finances for the Udhagamandalam season will go into setting up the tote system.

“More than 650 horses including 40-50 from other centres will participate this season. And the leading `Knights’ Sandesh, Trevor Patel from Mumbai and a couple of senior jockeys from Bengaluru and Hyderabad will don the silks here this season,” said K Ganapathy.

Well S Ganapathy and his son Arvind Ganapathy have confirmed participation along with Neil Darashah who will field Battalion in the classics.  Another leading pro Sulaiman Attaollahi and Arjun Manglorkar, it is learnt are also eyeing the Ooty plums.

“I may take a couple after I go through the prospectus and Arjun too is planning to do the same, “ said Sulaiman.

Managing director of URBB, Zeyn Mirza disclosed that he has asked a couple of his trainers from Bangalore to participate and support the effort of MRC.

“The onus is on us to help, support and promote a centre which has taken fresh guard to play a long second innings and we need to encourage the willingness in this exercise, “ said Zeyn.

While S Ganapathy is going with Spirited Regent who finished second behind Sulaiman’s best youngster in the Bangalore campus Serjeant At Arms, Arvind will travel to the Blue Mountains with Krieger. And Sulaiman and Arjun too will  field a few classic hopefuls and that will provide a new dimension to racing this season at Udhagamandalam.