GLITZ, GLAMOUR AND HIGH LIFE AT THE MID-DAY TROPHY - By Gitanjali Gurbaxani
Posted on - 22 Dec 2010
GLITZ, GLAMOUR AND HIGH LIFE AT THE MID-DAY TROPHY
By Gitanjali Gurbaxani
Get ready to witness some of the greatest turf battles this season at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, which gets underway on Sunday as the action never stops at Mahalaxmi. This Sunday features a triple header : The Grade-3 Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Trophy, with a million in stakes, The N N Mehta Sprint Million - the first juvenile million of the season with a million and a half in stakes and The Mid Day Trophy. H. H. Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Gold Cup is one of the oldest race for four year olds and over. Ever since its inception on 11th March 1962, it has seen winners of the highest quality. From the time of it’s first run as The Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Memorial Gold Cup in Mumbai, the race then moved on to be known as The Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Stakes and subsequently The Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Trophy. For some years now, this race is synonymous with the last Sunday in December. This year, we have Rohan Lifescape sponsoring this race.
H. H. Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia was a pioneer of Indian Racing for much of his life as he was a great lover of horses and a keen sportsman. The RWITC Ltd., after his demise, instituted The Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia Gold Cup for his lifelong commitment towards Horse Racing in India. He was a leading owner in Western India and actively encouraged horse racing. This race got a graded status, ( Gr.3 ) in 1987. That year, the winner was "COMMANDER IN CHIEF" ridden by V. Shinde, trained by R. R. Byramji and was owned by Mr. & Mrs. I. Nathani and Capt. K. S. AIvares.
Mid - Day is the only newspaper brand in the country to have an exclusive branded race at the Royal Western India Turf Club, Mumbai. The MID - DAY Trophy is a premium branded horse racing event on the lines of a Classic Racing Day. In the past, on this day, Mid - Day has had some superstars like John Abraham and Akshay Kumar attend this event and give away the trophy and RWITC Ltd., has ensured that the race lover are treated to a heady cocktail of competitive racing on the racetrack alongside glitz, glamour and high life on the adjacent lawns. In customary fashion, this Sunday too, we will have a Bollywood hunk gracing the turf, who will do away with the honours and attend the Mid - Day party.
Stars of the tinsel world Akshay Kumar & Twinkle Khanna at the Races last year
The Mid - Day Trophy is now an annual event. This Sunday will see the running of the MID - DAY Trophy at the Mahalaxmi racecourse over a trip of 1,200 metres, that will be contested by three year old maiden horses only. Some of the most promising youngsters will be making their debut in the MID - DAY Trophy, which carries a purse of Rs.3,50,000 besides a trophy valued at Rs.25,000. The trophy has been instituted by RWITC to honour MID - DAY's continued association as media partner for the third consecutive year.
(Gitanjali Gurbaxani is a Club Member of the RWITC and an avid race enthusiast for several years)
