The Indian Derby, a high point in Mumbai's sporting and social calendar, has established several new records this year, even before the horses are flagged off. That a sea of humanity will descend on the Mahalaxmi turf to witness a true spectacle is certain.
The 66th running of this blue riband of Indian racing is being increasingly promoted as a mega-powered lifestyle event, where equine grandeur is matched by fashion, entertainment and leisure on a mammoth scale. The total purse for the McDowell sponsored Derby is a whopping Rs 1.4 crore, which puts the prize money within sniffing reach of top races abroad. The winner's purse of near Rs 85 lakh and even the second place at about Rs 25 lakh are new benchmarks that are slated to only get bigger from next year. The entire weekend will see stakes and prizes in excess of Rs 2.5 crore, an unprecedented landmark in the history of racing in India.
The biggest draw of the weekend will be the presence of the best-known and most-loved jockey in the world, Frankie Dettori. Dettori is best known for his "flying dismounts" and for his magnificent seven at Ascot in 1996. A virtual galaxy of stars in Mick Kinane, who is ranked at the very top and has already won two Indian Derbies, Richard Hughes, Ryan Moore and others will also don silks, which is quite the equivalent of having Federer and Nadal in the line up of a tennis championship in Mumbai! And add those already here in Colm O'Donoghue, Chris Hayes, the in-form Daniel Grant and Samuel Fargeat, it is a virtual look-alike of an English classic!
Another huge attraction is the offering of the newly launched C-Class Mercedes Benz in a Drive a Dream contest linked to the Derby. Last year, a first-timer young lady drove home a dream. And on the sidelines, there will be a carnival with dancers, a performance of a tribute to musical legends and more. And for those without a reserved seat, the action will be live on a giant screen across the track.
The Derby field of 19 is possibly an all-time record, and even though Bourbon King will run a clear favourite, he is expected to be tested over the mile and a half trip and the race is most competitive. The size of the field makes the run and luck of the race a critical factor and will add to the excitement.
The RWITC is the only club in India to have taken the promotion of racing to such dizzy levels and the partnership with United Spirits has ensured that the Derby is truly the crown jewel. In 2009, our Club has already guaranteed a winner's purse of a minimum of Rs 1 crore. In racing, the horses are the real stars, but, this weekend, may well play second fiddle to the stars in the saddle and all the dazzle on the lawns, as the expected 25,000 crowd roars home a new champion
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