Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), in spite of an unprecedented financial deficit, has set aside an amount of Rs 3 crore as Stakes and Trophy valued at Rs 8,61,000 over a span of 35 race days including 10 charity meetings concluding on October 31, 1999.

Fifty trainers are busy gearing up 1,500 contenders with the assistance of 100 jockeys and apprentices. Nearly 200 riding and permission boys who are attached with different stables are exercising horses from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. on different grounds and tracks.

The attendance continues to dwindle as was evident at Mahalakshmi (Mumbai) race course during the last season and the authorities had to introduce incentives and schemes to draw the public to patronise the `King of Sports'. The efforts had paid desirable dividends.

There is a silver lining at the Pune Race Course as youngsterswitnessed during the last Pune season and it is hoped that the number of new and casual race goers will continue to grow and will become part and parcel of today's racing. However, much will depend on the authorities that the interest created in masses, for some reason, would not be a temporary phase.

Some of the charges from the yards of trainers CD Katrak, Narendra Lagad, Uttam Singh, Zadmal Singh, SK Sunderji and Dallas Todiwalla will play a decisive role in the early part of the season.

Arabian Warrior, Avenging Angel, Certain Smile, Crystal Girl, Double Impact, Ocean Breeze, Rise And Shine, Ruff Affair, Say No More and Star Concert are ready for the fray and worth following in their forthcoming attempts.

Following is the schedule of important events:

July: 15 (July Stakes), 16, 22, 23 and 31 (Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy).

August: 1 (August Handicap), 7 (Mayor's Trophy and Fillies Stakes), 8 (Colts Stakes), 14, 15 (Le Meridien Independence Trophy), 21 (FD Wadia Trophy), 22 (Sub-AreaCommander's Trophy and Turf Club Trophy), 28 (Rajaram Chhatrapati Trophy and Tricumdas Dwarkadas Trophy).

September: 4 (Eve Champion Trophy), 5 (Threptin General Rajendrasinhji Million), 11, 12 (Southern Command Gold Trophy), 13, 18, 19 (September Handicap), 25 (Idar Gold Trophy) and 26 (SA Poonawalla Million).

October: 1, 3 (October Handicap and Fillies & Mares Stakes), 9, 10, 16, 17 (Nanoli Stud Pune Derby), 22, 23, 24 (Suresh Mahindra Trophy), 29, 30 and 31 (Herbertsons Bagpiper Gold RWITC Ltd Invitational Profit).