MRC to host Poonawalla Indian Turf Invitation Cup & Mysore Derby weekend on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25
Mysuru: The Mysore Race Club (MRC) Ltd. will be commencing the Mysore (Monsoon) Races 2026 from Sept. 3.
Spread across sixteen race days, the season will be conducted predominantly on Thursdays and Fridays and will culminate in the Zavaray S. Poonawalla Indian Turf Invitation Cup & Mysore Derby weekend of racing on Saturday (Oct. 24) and Sunday (Oct. 25).
The season offers an impressive line-up of important Classic, Sweepstakes and Graded races, ensuring that the Monsoon programme caters to horses of different age groups and racing categories.
Among the principal races for three-year-old Indian horses are: The Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Memorial Million; The F. K. Irani Memorial Million; The Zavaray S. Poonawalla Mysore 1000 Guineas (Grade III); The Zavaray S. Poonawalla Mysore 2000 Guineas (Grade III); The Zavaray S. Poonawalla Mysore Derby (Grade I).
For horses three-year-old and above: The Zavaray S. Poonawalla Mysore Dasara Sprint Championship (Grade II); The Zavaray S. Poonawalla Mysore Race Club Anniversary Cup.
The four-year-old and over category will feature: The H. H. Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar Memorial Trophy (Grade III); The Maharaja’s Cup (Grade II); The Governor’s Cup.
Stake money: The advertised stake money for the season is approximately Rs. 7 crore, including cups and trophies, excluding the races conducted during the Invitation Cup Weekend.
Approximately 460 horses are presently stabled at Mysore Race Club, while around 400 outstation horses are expected to participate during the season.
Around 33 local trainers and 50 trainers from other racing centres are expected to have runners at Mysuru races.
The Club also expects over 100 jockeys, including several of the leading riders on the Indian racing circuit, to ride during the season in Mysuru.
Totalisator facilities: Adequate betting terminals will be made available to accommodate racegoers and to facilitate smoother and more efficient totalisator operations.
Lucky draw: The Club will also conduct a lucky draw on every Mysuru race day based on the counterfoils of entrance tickets: First prize – Rs. 3,000; Second – Rs. 2,000; Third – Rs. 1,000.
Live racing will be streamed on the Club’s official website: www.mysoreraceclub.com, according to a press release from K.T. Balakrishna, Chairman & Senior Steward, MRC Ltd.
This post was published on September 2, 2026 7:30 pm