Bangalore winter races from Friday

Vivek G Ubhayakar, Chairman and Chief Steward of the BTC, told a press conference here on Wednesday that the winter season would have 34 race days, an increase of three days from the previous year.

The stakes, incentives and subsidy to be paid by the BTC is expected to be Rs 14 crore, an increase of two crore from the previous year. There will be thirteen special races during the winter season with the Poonawalla Bangalore Derby, the main event, scheduled on January 26.

BTC officials refused to go into the details of the court case filed by the BTC on the shifting of the race course. "I can confirm that a writ has been filed and the court has sent a notice to the government. The next hearing will be on December 14, that is all I can say as of now," Ubhayakar said.  The BTC managing committee has come under pressure to withdraw the case even though its general body meeting had favoured adopting legal measures.