The 26-day Bangalore Summer Season will commence on Saturday (May 14) and will go on till August 5. Racing will be held on Saturdays and Sundays except during the last week. Concurrently summer races will be held at Mysore spread over 12 days during the period — May 18 and Aug. 3 — mainly on Wednesdays.
Briefing the media here on Thursday, the BTC Chairman Mr. D.M. Kumaraswamy said that the Club would be paying stakes and incentives of Rs 15 crores. The stakesmoney has been increased by 10 per cent in respect of all ordinary races. Payment of incentives on stakes earned by local horses in ordinary races, during Bangalore Summer Meeting has been enhanced to 10 per cent as compared to 6.5 per cent paid last year. Payment of 10 per cent incentives on stakes won by local horses bred in Karnataka will continue as during winter meeting of 2010-11.
Payment of 20 per cent incentive on stakes earned by local horses in ordinary races will continue on the same basis, as during the last winter meeting, in respect of owners not having interest in more than five horses. A new state of the art Photo Finish Digital Camera has been imported and will be operational during the season and is expected to enhance the availability of information to the racing fraternity.
The Chairman, said “the Club has made a representation to the Government of Karnataka for reducing the totalisator's tax from 8 per cent to 4 per cent on par with that retained at Mysore Race Club.
The Kingfisher Derby Bangalore will be sponsored like last summer, with the added money having been increased from Rs. 60 lakhs to 100 lakhs, incentive of the Club's contribution of Rs. 50 lakhs, and an equal contribution of Rs. 50 lakhs by the sponsors. The total stakes for this race is expected to be about Rs. 2 crores and it will be the second richest race in the history of Indian racing, next only to the Indian Derby.
About 875 horses including 70 outstation horses are stabled in the BTC premises and about 750 horses are expected to take part. Mumbai and Hyderabad based trainers will also race their wards. Jockeys numbering over 100, including foreigners, will be seen in action too.
Racing dates:
May 14, 15 (Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Cup), 21, 22 (Juvenile Million), 28, 29 (Karnataka Cup). June 4, 5 (Chief Ministers Cup), 11, 12 (Fillies Championship Stakes), 18 (Chief Justice's Cup), 19 (Colts Championship Stakes), 25, 26 (Deccan Chronicle Juvenile Sprinters' Million). July 2, 3 (Maharaja's Cup), 9 (BTC Anniversary Cup), 10 (Kingfisher Derby Bangalore), 16, 17 (Bangalore St. Leger), 23, 24 (Nanoli Stud Bangalore Summer Million), 30, 31 (Seven Group Bangalore City Gold Cup). August 4 and 5 (Governor's Cup).
