Leading trainer Prasanna Kumar and the summer champion Arjun Manglorkar hold a whip hand in the winter season starting on Rajyotsava day. Prasanna after his highly successful maiden stint in Pune, winning a good number of plums including the blue riband of the season, the HPSL Pune Derby on Redefined is back, gearing up to maintain his winning streak at home. The top pro is also aiming to hit the bull's eye in a couple of major plums including the classics in the forthcoming Mumbai season.  Arjun Manglorkar after winning the champion trainer title in the summer season continued his victory march in Mysore and it is needless to mention that the top winter performer wants to get the ball rolling right from the start and that is clear from the talented Disciple's entry in the Jayant Shah Memorial Trophy on the opening day. Another leading trainer Sulaiman Attaollahi, who struck a bad patch in summer is expected to join the two leaders on top of the leader board taking into account that he has good ammunition under his belt to get cracking. The club has framed a good card of eight-events and the railbirds are ready with their many permutations and combinations to crack the pot of gold and solve the five-horse puzzle (Jackpot) during Diwali. 

The chairman of meeting and steward, KA Jagadish in a `meet the press' session disclosed that the track is in ship-shape conditions and that the leading pros, trainers and jockeys  pleased with the lush green track are ready to parade their skills in their effort to gallop to fame this winter. Jagadish revealed that in the 24-day winter season, apart from 24 trainers, 64 jockeys including 10 claiming allowance have been issued `A" license and 45 jockeys including eight have been granted `B" license and that effectively makes it clear that a total of 100 jockeys will don silks at this premier centre in winter. 

"The total stakes offered this season is 15.47 crore. And for local horses, performance linked incentive of 15 percent will be credited to the accounts of the owners," said Jagadish. The chairman of meeting and steward confirmed that eight new trainers including four from other centre have been provided license to train at this centre. Jagadish who played a stellar role to get the track back in top shape, made it clear that effort will be on to provide fair and clean racing, the committee ready to crack the whip on the offenders, who intentionally violate the rules seeking gains. 

When posed with the question, what's new this winter, committee member Kantharaj made it clear that following the elections likely to be held in the end of November or in the first week of December following the forensic audit, the new committee will draw out plans for the season. Kantharaj also revealed that the present committee after many brain storming sessions to find a way to get the punter back at the tote window have decided to promote the tote and make it more attractive, reducing the club commision. "We understand that the collections at the tote are falling and it's time to support the tote and the small punters who pick up tickets at the window," said Kantharaj. 

Dr Hajee Abdul Sattar Sait will head the new Board Of Appeal (BOA). LK Atheeq, BK Das, B Dayananda, Kenneth Pinto and L Vivekananda are the five other members of BOA. 

Well all said and done the stage is set and the thunder of the hooves will provide a lyrical ring, when the starter flags of the first day,first show on Friday.