After the conclusion of the Bangalore Summer races, the racing circus now shifts to Mysore and the Mysore Race Club (MRC) has framed a competitive card of seven events on the opening day of the Monsoon season on Thursday. The first plum of the season, the Srikantadatta Narasimharaaja Wadiyar Memorial Multi-Million surprisingly has failed to attract a sizeable number of runners, only four contestants including a solitary local entry, Royal Defender, winner of Nilgiris Derby from Sebastian's yard. However, the Satish Narredu schooled Casteel to be piloted by Suraj Narredu is likely to garner the maximum support in the opening plum.

425 local horses at the Mysore campus and almost an equal number of outstation horses mainly from Bengaluru will compete in the 16-day season and MRC spearheaded by Chairman, KM Chandre Gowda, is ready to facilitate the professionals looking to make a mark and enter the elite club in the months ahead. MRC has offered stake money amounting to Rs 6.85 crore this season and the managing committee of the club is confident that they will rope in a couple of sponsors for the marquee events including the Mysore Derby, scheduled to be held on Oct 27, the final day of the season. The second classic of the season, the Mysore 2000 Guineas is sponsored by the Jayachamraja Wadiyar Golf Club. The Golf Club has contributed 10 lakhs and the classic event is certain to generate big buzz and excitement among the racing buffs at this centre taking into account that a number of top colts from Bengaluru are likely to contest in this Colts classic.

"We are ready for the big season before we play host to the Indian Turf Invitation Cup on the first Sunday of March next year," said MRC chairman, Chandre Gowda adding that the track is in ship-shape condition and the 90 A & B license jockeys will love to parade their skills this season. "Following a couple of thunder showers last month, it is a lush green bed and my committee has left no stone unturned in its effort to provide the best facilities to the visiting trainers," said Chandre Gowda.

MRC Secretary, MR Jagannath disclosed that 28 local trainers and an equal number of outstation trainers will race their horses during the season. "It will be a competitive season. The local trainers are ready and all geared up to lock horns with the outstation contestants and a good number of top Bengaluru trainers will target the many plums, the Dasara Sprint Championship and the Maharaja's Cup apart from the classics, which will prove to be the big draw cards, said Jagannath.