The 20-day Mysore racing season will commence here on Aug. 21. The total stakes offered will be Rs 6.77 crores. The stake amount has been increased by 15 per cent.
The newly elected Chairman Dr. N. M. Srinivas told newspersons that the regular Mysore season will be conducted by the Mysore Race Club for the first time after it became an independent turf authority. The number of races has been increased to 170. Over 500 horses are expected to participate.
About 25 local and 40 outstation trainers are expected to race their wards. While over 100 jockeys including top riders in the circuit are expected to be in action.
He further said the race club has equipped and highly secured sampling yard and a good commentator’s box. The state government has granted permission to construct 300 additional stables and the same will be completed in a few months time in order to facilitate the outstation horses. The club has initiated steps to set up off course betting centres to further augment its revenue.
He said betting terminals have been upgraded with new software and thermal printers and scanners have been installed to increase the speed of totalizator transactions and as many as 200 betting terminals would be operated during the season.
On the social front, the Mysore Race Club Eye Hospital which has been serving the people with free eye operations, would be upgraded with additional facilities at a cost of Rs 2 crores.
Important races: H. H. Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Memorial (Aug. 28), Mysore 1000 Guineas (Sept. 11), Maharaja's Gold Cup (Sept. 12), Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club Mysore 2000 Guineas (Sept. 26), Mysore Dasara Sprint Championship (Oct. 1), Governor's Gold Cup (Oct. 10), Mysore Derby (Oct. 19).