• The 58th Edition to be held in city on Feb.29 and Mar.1
• Total stake money is Rs. 3.71 crore

Mysore Race Club (MRC) Limited will be hosting the 58th Edition of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup 2020 on Feb.29 and Mar.1.

Announcing this at a press meet at the MRC premises last evening, MRC Chairman Dr. N. Nithyanand Rao said that the two-day event will see the best horses from across the country racing and it is for the first time that 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.

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 on Feb.29. This award is to honour the leading Performers of the Season.

“Three new big stands are ready and we are expecting a huge crowd. Many punters and racing enthusiasts from across the country will be down in Mysuru for the weekend races which is co-sponsored by Dharmadhikari of Sree Meenakshi Sundereshwara Temple Swaroop Kumar and MRC is ready to stage the racing spectacle in all its glory,” said Dr. Nithyanand Rao, who is back from his Asian Racing Conference in South Africa.

Membership

MRC is considering to increase the number of its members and a proposal in this regard will be submitted to the Government, Dr. Nithyanand Rao said and added that if the Government approves, 50 more new members will be included.

Major Events on Feb.29

1. The Bangalore Turf Club Sprinters’ Cup (Grade I); 2. The Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy Stayers’ Cup (Grade I)

Major Events on Mar.1

1. The Indian Turf Invitation Cup (Grade I); 2. The Maj. P.K. Mehra Memorial Super Mile Cup (Grade I); 3. The Suresh Mahindra Multi-Million Trophy (Grade II).

Best horse of India ‘War Hammer’ not in the race

The bad news for the racing buffs is that one of the best horses on the Indian racing circuit, War Hammer, will not be a part of the Indian Turf Invitation Cup, due to suspensory ligament problem.

“It is very disappointing that the best horse is not in the fray for the Indian Turf Invitation Cup. But I just didn’t want to take a chance. He has remained unbeaten from his eight starts including four classic victories and it is only fair to provide him rest and treatment,” said Trainer Prasanna Kumar.

MRC Chairman Dr. Nithyanand Rao said: “It is sad that War Hammer will be missing from the line-up. We still have all the best performers competing in all the major events and the fact that all the big owners and top trainers in the country have decided to bring their star performers down to Mysuru only confirms the trust and appreciation MRC enjoys.”

In the absence of War Hammer in the Indian Turf Invitation Cup, the two older horses, Star Superior from Rajesh Narredu’s yard and the Kolkata challenger Adjudicate, winner of the event last year at Hyderabad, are likely to gain top billing.