Winter Meeting to kick off on Saturday

The Kimmane Bangalore Derby will be the highlight of the Winter Meeting, set to kick off at the Bangalore Turf Club here on Saturday.

Like in the previous years, the Derby will be run on January 26 with a minimum purse of Rs 25 lakh and a trophy earmarked for the winner. This year the prestigious race will be sponsored by Jairam G Kimmane of Kimmane Golf and Resorts, KTG Group.

The 32-day winter meeting will have 265 races with a total stake money of Rs 13.22 crore expected to flow in during this season.

“Racing will be held mainly on Fridays and Saturdays at the BTC,” said BTC Chairman and Senior Steward D M Kumaraswamy at the press meet on Wednesday.

The Winter Meeting will conclude at the BTC on March 23 with the Bangalore Juvenile Million (Grade III) scheduled to run on the final day. In Mysore, the winter races begin on Wednesday (November 7) with the meeting spread over 17 days.

On the opening day, the Rajyotsava Trophy (Grade III) which has been accorded the Grade III status this season by the Indian Pattern Committee will be the featured event. Bangalore 1000 Guineas (Grade II) (November 24), Bangalore Turf Club Trophy (December 1), Karnataka Racehorse Owners Association Trophy (January 19) and Governor’s Trophy (February 23) will be some of the main races to be run during the winter meeting.

Special races and date: Rajyotsava Trophy (Grade III) (November 3); Bangalore 1000 Guineas (Grade II) (Nov 24), Bangalore Turf Club Trophy (December 1); Bangalore 2000 Guineas (Grade II) (Dec 8); Chief Minister’s Trophy (January 4, 2013); Bangalore Oaks (Grade II) and New Year Cup (Jan 5); Karnataka Racehorse Owners Association Trophy (Jan 19); Kimmane Bangalore Derby (Grade I) (Jan 26); D P Sharma Memorial Sprinters Trial Stakes (Jan 31); Stayers Trial Stakes (February 9); P Dayanand Pai & P Satish Pai Bangalore Winter Million (Grade III) (Feb 16); Governor’s Trophy (Feb 23); Bangalore Juvenile Million (Grade III) (March 23).