This winter it will be the Narredus, Satish, Rajesh and Suraj who will hold a whip hand in the classics while the three top trainers in the Bangalore campus, Arjun Manglorkar, Prasanna Kumar and Sulaiman Attaollahi will strive to change the equation in what promises to be a competitive winter season, starting on Friday. The Rajyotsava Trophy, the plum event on the opening day has attracted a creditable field of seven runners and the onus is on the trainers at this premier centre to consistently race their horses under their care to provide the competitive edge to the 22-day season.

"It will be a winter to remember," said BTC chairman Arvind Raghavan pointing out that a good number of bred in the purple youngsters and many classic hopefuls will parade their skills in the season. "We from our end have provided a near-perfect platform to the star performers to gallop to fame and the management committee has left no stone unturned in  its endeavour to facilitate the professionals at this centre," said Arvind adding that the sport will be back on the high road if a little relief is provided to the game from the 28 percent GST slab.

"We have not lost hope and we are positive that the government in time to come will look and understand what is being projected and more importantly the financial stability the clubs need to keep the game going," said Arvind.

Responding to a question on the track condition and what winter racing has in store, the BTC chairman said: "The track is in ship-shape condition and all the top saddle artistes are immensely pleased with the lush-green track. Winter racing has always been competitive and all the classics will generate maximum interest and excitement taking into account that we have a couple top classic winners including Touch Of Grey and Synthesis and more importantly a number of classic hopefuls are gearing up to enter the elite classic league this winter."

More than 100 jockeys including 14 apprentice jockeys are likely to parade their skills this winter. The aggregate total prize money for the 22-day season is 13.26 crore and in respect of local horses, performance linked 15 percent incentive will be credited to the account of the concerned owners. The management committee has decided to test both the blood and urine samples in respect of the first three placed horses in the graded races and in addition, blood samples will be taken from atleast 33 percent of the random samples acquired from the horses stationed at BTC. which will be tested for prohibited substances and not only for illicit substances.

Former BTC chairman Satish Chandra will head the Board Of Appeal (BOA). The other members of  BOA are: LK Atheeq, B Dayananda, Kiran Basappa, S K Raghunandan and KN Shanth Kumar.

Well all said and done the stage is set and the thunder of the hooves will provide a lyrical ring to what on cards promises to be a lively winter season ahead.