A total stakesmoney of Rs 5.40 crores will be offered during the 18-day Mysore racing season which commences here on Aug. 22.
The newly elected Chairman D. Satayanarayna told newspersons that about 350 horses would be participating during the season.
Almost all the trainers of Bangalore and Mysore will be racing their wards here. All jockeys licensed by Bangalore as well as from other centres will don the silks. He further 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 150 betting terminals would be operated during the season to cater to more punters. Mr Satyanarayana said that the Turf Authority of India will lift the ban of 30 days on Aug. 16 for horses affected with viral disease. However outstations horses will not be participating as a precautionary measure, he added.
It is also learnt that the Mysore Race Club lease has been extended upto 2016.
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 crore.
The track has been maintained in good condition and utmost care has been taken for the entire season.
Important race days: Mysore Million (Aug. 29), Mysore 1000 Guineas (Sept. 12), Maharaja's Gold Cup (Sept. 13), F. K. Irani Memorial Gold Cup (Sept. 19), Chief Minister’s Gold Cup (Sept. 28), Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club Mysore 2000 Guineas (Sept. 28), Mysore Dasara Sprint Championship (Oct. 4), Governor's Gold Cup (Oct. 11) and Mysore Derby (Oct. 20).
