Live racing returns to Calcutta after nearly a month. The 30-day Calcutta winter racing season that starts from November 5 will see a shade under 366 horses vying for 233 race events. The
horse-strength may further improve and it may not come as a surprise if it crosses the 400 mark in the coming few weeks because trainer Darius Byramji and owner MAM Ramaswamy are expected to
dispatch big contingents during the course of the season.
The stake money too gets a significant boost as Rupees 3 crore that has been made available for the five-month long season gets increased by about 21 percent compared to what was paid out last winter.
The season may also witness 13 “A” category trainers and about 60 jockeys vying for
honours. Seven apprentice jockeys, too, will be seen in action during the season. For the first time in last
couple of decades, the Calcutta Derby will be without a sponsor. The UB Group was the one to patronise last season. However, efforts are being made to rope in one, though chances appear to be very slim. The regular sponsor like Eveready Industries, HSBC, Nanoli Stud Farm, Usha Stud Farm and Bharat Petroleum, Breeders and Calcutta Bookmaker have decided to continue support in their humble way. The Taratala Soft Drinks has come out in the open after years of sponsorship through indirect ways.
Some of the prominent horses among outstation contenders for the terms and plum races are already in the city and to name a few are Red Chief, Own Vision, Psychic Flame, Actuary and Streisand who may try their luck in the local classics, while Noble Executive, Network, Obligado, Attorney and L’Avenir may make the Sweepstakes’ line ups worthwhile.
Breeze Up sales are round the corner and the 14 horses listed for auction may come under the hammer on November 17. The horses are between the age-group of two and five. They are Tasmac, Swinging Conquest, Native Red, Dazzling Gold, Louis Cyphre – all five-year-olds – Star Above, Tagged For Terror, Royal Charmer, Flight Of Angels, Provocateur, Vashalakkshi – four-year-olds – Pipsqueak and Velocette – both three-year-olds – and an un-named two-year-old colt by Batzushka out of Abound.