The Calcutta Cold Weather Season inevitably ushers in an aura of colonial charm which never fails to delight oldtimers. The 2025-2026 winter meeting kicks off on Thursday.The meeting will comprise 30 race days and will conclude on the first day of April, There are 183races scheduled including 64 Cup races, to to be run during these five months.The Club presently has 271 horses in station which includes 37 two-year-olds. A furthernumber of horses are expected to arrive in station during the Season with ‘B’ licensed Trainers. Thirteen trainers and 15 jockeys have been issued ‘A licenses and at the moment there are 34 ‘B’ licensed Jockeys and 2 apprentices who will be seen in action.

Some of the names to be followed during the early part of the season are trainers Aashay Doctor, Neil Darashah, Rajesh Narredu and Rutherford Alford. Keep an eye on horses with B Mahesh and Vikash Jaiswal. Big guns among outstation riders will also be seen in action and they will undoubtedly liven up the track.

The advertised stake money for the Season is Rs. 11.9 Cr. A further sum of Rs. 17.75 lakh isthe value of Cups and Trophies. The winner’s prize for ordinary juvenile races will be Rs.8,15,000/- which should attract owners to bring in their juveniles to ‘A’ licensed trainersThe Stewards are pleased to announce that for stakes earned by horses under the charge of ‘A’ licensed trainers, bonus stakes of 25% will be given for all Non-Sweepstakes Handicap and Juvenile races. Trainers and jockeys will also be eligible for their respective shares in the above bonus.

The classics and some of the major sweepstakes races scheduled to be run during the season are as under:-

The Mayfowl Cup – November 14

The Calcutta 1000 Guineas (Grade III) –November   29

The Calcutta 2000 Guineas (Grade II) –December 6, .

The Calcutta Gold Cup – December 13.

The Calcutta Oaks -  December 20.

The Indian Produce Stakes – New Year’s Day

The Calcutta Derby Stakes (Grade I) –January 11.

The Calcutta Champions’ Sprint Trophy (Grade III) – January 17.

The Indian Champion Cup (Grade I) – January23

The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Cup (Grade III) – February7

The Calcutta Million (Grade III) -February 14,

The Calcutta St. Leger - February 25