With the chill making a return to the city, the time is just right for the races hotting up.
Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) will see two days of back-to-back racing excitement this weekend. "We have two top races this weekend. With the weather holding up and winter coming back, we are hoping for an exceptional weekend," said Jayant Jaipal Singh, the CEO of RCTC.
Eight races are lined up on Saturday. The action begins at 12.45pm but the feature race of the day, the Police Commissioner Trophy organised in association with The Telegraph, is scheduled for 2.45pm.
The Police Commissioner Trophy, traditionally a part of the winter races, draws the who's who of Calcutta to the stands as they turn out in their fashionable best to cheer contenders, place bets and enjoy a day out in the winter sun.
Nine horses will run a distance of 1200 metres to vie for the Police Commissioner Trophy, a class II race. The trophy and the prize money, sponsored by Diamond Beverages, will be handed over to the winner by Calcutta police commissioner R.K. Pachnanda.
"Each year, one of the races is picked for the Police Commissioner Trophy and the prize is given away by the commissioner of police," said the race course manager and commentator, Anit Casyab.
If Saturday's racing highlight is the Police Commissioner Trophy, Sunday belongs to The Eveready Calcutta Derby Stakes held in association with The Telegraph. It is the sixth of nine races on the cards on Sunday.
The blue-riband race of the season, the derby is also the city's richest with a total of Rs 1 crore at stake.
The derby was to be held last Sunday but was cancelled after overnight rain had left the racetracks slushy.
The derby, which has stepped into its eighth year, has always been popular in Calcutta. This time, there will be eight participants and the top contenders are Dandified, hailed as the prince of Calcutta, and In The Spotlight, the queen of the South. The horses will be meeting on the tracks for the first time.
Adding to Sunday's excitement is the carried-over jackpot pool of Rs 15 lakh. For those looking for entertainment beyond the races, there will be live music by the band, The Orchids, a well-stocked food court and a bar.
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