The 2019 Pune racing season will commence from July 25 and will end on October 26, as per the prospectus of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC).
This year’s season is reduced to 23 race days as against previous year’s 26 race days with the total prize money of ₹ 8.19 crore.
The stellar attractions of the season would be the Pune Derby (Gr.1) scheduled to be run on October 13 and the Indian St. Leger, the last leg of the Indian classics this year, on September 22.
Another added attraction of the season are the two million races sponsored by the Poonawalla family, Villoo C.Poonawalla Million and S.A.Poonawalla Million scheduled to be run on September 15.
The longest race of the country (over 3200m), which is held only in Pune, is the Suresh Mahindra Trophy to be run on October 12.
The decades-long association between RWITC and Local Military Authority (LMA) is well known and the Southern Command Gold Trophy (Sept.1) with complete Army regalia participation would be one of the highlights.
Radio One will be the Radio partner for the Pune season and will be promoting races week after week.
Important races: Turf Club Trophy (Aug.4); Eve Champion Trophy (Aug.10); F.D.Wadia Trophy (Aug.24); Idar Gold Trophy (Aug.31); Southern Command Gold Trophy (Sept.1); Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy (Sept.7); Villoo C. Poonawalla Million and S.A. Poonawalla Million (Sept.15); Pune City Gold Cup (Sept.21); Indian St. Leger (Gr.1) (Sept.22); Threptin Fillies & Mares Stakes (Oct.6); Suresh Mahindra Trophy (Oct.12); Pune Derby Gr.1 (Oct.13); Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million (Oct.13); General Rajendrasinhji Million (Oct.25) and R.W.I.T.C Ltd Gold Cup (Oct.26).
Racing dates: July: 25 & 26; August: 3, 4, 10, 15, 16, 24, 25 & 31; September: 1, 7, 14, 15, 21, 22 & 29; October: 5, 6, 12, 13, 25 and 26.