• Two-day event being held in Mysuru for the first time
• Rs. 3.71 crore stake money for a total of 16 races
• Free Contest of Skill on Mar. 1
• Free eye screening camp at MRC Eye Hospital on Mar. 2

The much awaited 58th Edition of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup 2020, a two-day gala event, began today afternoon at the Mysore Race Club (MRC) Ltd. in Nazarbad here.

This is the first time this prestigious Invitation Cup is being held in Mysuru after the Mysore Race Club attained the Independent Turf Authority status in 2014.

“In the two-day event, there will be a total of 16 races — 8 races on each day — and the total stake money is Rs. 3.71 crore. A total of 120 horses will be part of the racing event, with more than 8,000 people expected today and close to 10,000 people expected to take part tomorrow. The MRC has made ample parking and seating arrangements for the convenience of those attending the event,” said MRC Chairman Dr. N. Nithyanand Rao.

Apart from the races, the Turf Authorities of India will be presenting the Annual Racing Awards at a ceremony to be held at MRC Club House this evening. This award is to honour the leading Performers of the season.

Many punters and racing enthusiasts from across the country will take part in this event which is co-sponsored by Dharmadhikari of Sree Meenakshi Sundereshwara Temple, Swaroop Kumar.

Races today

The first race of the two-day event was held today at 1.30 pm for ‘Madras Race Club Million’ followed by ‘Dashmesh-Win Legend Million’ (2 pm); ‘Hyderabad Race Club Million’ (2.30 pm); ‘R.W.I.T.C Million’ (3 pm); ‘Japan Million’ (3.30 pm); ‘BTC Sprinters Cup- Grade 1’ (4 pm); ‘Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy Stayers Cup’ (4.30 pm) and ‘Delhi Race Club Million’ being the last race for the day at 5 pm.

Races tomorrow (Mar. 1)

On day 2, the following races will be held: ‘His Highness Maharaja Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Birth Centenary Celebration’ (2 pm); followed by ‘Smt. Gayatri Devi and Sardar K.B. Ramachandra Raj Urs Million’ (2.30 pm); ‘Villloo C. Poonawala Million’ (3 pm); ‘Suresh Mahindra Multi-million Trophy’ (3.30 pm); ‘Maj. P.K. Mehra Memorial Super Mile Cup’ (4 pm); ‘Indian Turf Invitation Cup’ (4.30 pm); ‘Kunigal Stud Million’ (5 pm) and ‘Malayan Racing Association Goodwill Trophy’ being the last race for the day at 5.30 pm.

Free Contest of Skill

Five lucky winners participating in the ‘The Indian Turf Invitation Cup 2020’ will be given Maruti Alto Suzuki Car as first prize and Bajaj 110 ES Bike as second prize, as part of the ‘Free Contest of Skill’ event to be held on Mar. 1.

Mega Eye screening camp

As part of the event, the Turf Authorities of India have arranged a mega free eye screening and cataract operation camp on Mar. 2 at MRC Eye Hospital in Siddarthanagar. The Chairmen of all the seven Race Clubs in India (including MRC) will jointly inaugurate the camp at 9.30 am on Mar. 2.

Royal Calcutta Turf Club Chairman Sudipto Sarkar; Royal Western India Turf Club Chairman Z.S. Poonawalla; Madras Race Club Chairman M.A.M.R. Muthiah; Bangalore Turf Club Chairman D. Vinod Sivappa; Hyderabad Race Club Chairman R. Surender Reddy and Delhi Race Club (1940) President J.S. Bedi; MRC Eye Hospital Committee Chairman and former MRC Chairman Dr. C. D. Sreenivasa Murthy; MRC Charitable Trust Chairman and Turf Authorities of India Chairman Dr. N. Nithyanand Rao will be present on the occasion.