MUMBAI: The Mumbai horse racing season 2023-24, featuring 25 race days, kicks off at the Mahalaxmi racecourse on Thursday and will run till April 7, 2024. Of the 25 days, 10 will feature evening races which will be held mostly in the months of March and April.
Dr. Ram Shroff, the senior committee member of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) informed that the season will offer stakes money of around Rs 22 crore, which continues to be highest in the country. A major part of it is contributed by Zavaray Poonawalla, Cyrus Poonawalla, Khushroo Dhunjibhoy and his friends and Shapoor Mistry.
There will be virtually no restriction on outstation horses while Mumbai will have 630 horses in training including the 201 two-year-olds.
There will be 42 trainers, including 10 holding 'B' license, and 78 jockeys, including 21 with 'B' license, in action during the season.
Major races: The Indian 1000 Guineas on Dec 17; The 2000 Guineas on Dec 24; The Indian Oaks on Jan 13; The Indian Derby Weekend on Feb 3 and 4; Poonawalla Breeders' Multi-Million Feb 25; Shapoorji Juvenile Championship on Mar 17 and Indian Racing Carnival on April 6 & 7.
Season's schedule: Nov: 23, 26; Dec: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; Jan: 4, 11, 13, 18, 21; Feb: 3, 4, 11, 18, 25; Mar: 7, 10, 14, 17, 24, 31; Apr: 6, 7.
Son Of A Gun for feature
Veteran trainer Narendra Lagad's ward Son Of A Gun is likely to prevail over his three rivals in the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy, feature race of the opening day on Thursday. In the hands of Pune Season's champion jockey Mustakim Alam, Son Of A Gun may win it from Sky Fall. There are just six races with the first starting at 2.30pm.
Selections
1. Welcome Trophy (1200m): Democracy 1, New Dimension 2. 2. P B Avasia Plate (1600m): Zuccaro 1, Hooves Of Thunder 2. 3. A Hoyt Plate (1400m): Cordelia 1, Ameerah 2. 4. Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy (1200m): Son Of A Gun 1, Sky Fall 2. 5. Secret Star Plate (1400m): Fashion Icon 1, Zip Along 2. 6. Kazakh Plate (1000m): Superimpose 1, Dowsabel 2. Day's Best: Zuccaro.
