More than 500 horses will take part in the 45-day Madras racing season which commences here on Oct. 26. The meeting will go on till March 27, 2014.
About 100 two-year-olds will be racing during the season. Amanullah Khan, Secretary, Madras Race Club, who briefed the press on Thursday, said that the total stakes money offered will be Rs. 20,33,25,620 including the value of cups. Three hundred and twenty nine races have been framed for the season — hundred of them being cup races.
This year the Madras Race Club has decided to institute races in memory of K.Balakrishna Rao, D. Kumar Siddanna, Dr. C. G. Bhaskar, Mrs. S. Aruna and Dr. V. Sachidanadham.
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Outstation horses are eligible to take part only in the following races — Sohna Stud Farm South India 1000 Guineas (Gr. II), Hazara Stud Farm South India 2000 Guineas (Gr. II), Poonawalla Estates Stud & Agricultural South India Oaks (Gr. I), South India Corporation South India Derby Stakes (Gr. I) and Chettinad Cement South India St. Leger (Gr. II).
To be eligible for incentives and to participate in any race, horses 6-years-old and below starting with races rated 40 & above, should have arrived here before Oct. 25.
Eighteen trainers and 35 jockeys will be seen in action.
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Racing dates: Oct.: 26 and 27, Nov.: 1, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15, 20, 21, 27 and 28, Dec.: 4, 5 (Sohna Stud Farm South India 1000 Guineas), 11, 12, 18, 19 (Hazara Stud Farm South India 2000 Guineas) and 27, Jan. 2014: 2 (Poonawalla Estates Stud & Agricultural South India Oaks), 3, 8, 9, 14 (South India Corporation South India Derby Stakes), 15, 22, 25, 29 and 30. Feb.: 7, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 (Chettinad Cement South India St. Leger), March: 6, 9, 11, 14, 18, 20, 21, 25 and 27.