All set for Hyderabad monsoon races

The stage is set for the 28-day Hyderabad Monsoon races, scheduled to commence at the Malakpet Race Course here from tomorrow.
A notable of feature of the ensuing season is the hike in the stake money to the horse owners to Rs 14.55 crore against Rs 11.97 crore last year, besides trophies worth Rs 30.87 lakhs will also be given away during the season.
Addressing the customary season-eve press conference last night, Hyderabad Race Club (HRC) chairman R Surender Reddy said the stakes would go further with the division of races.
The stakes offered were apart from other subsidies, Reddy said adding that the stakes-horse ratio offered at HRC was the highest in the country (Rs 2.71 lakh per horse), he said.

The season is expected to witness keen competition with 23 "A" licensed Hyderabad-based trainers, 34 "A" licensed jockeys and apprentice jockeys and 10 "B" licensed jockeys vying for the honours.
More than 740 horses, including 221 two-year-old

horses, are in station and of them 526 horses will be taking part in the races.
Recent rains have done a world of good to the racing track which is a picture of lush, green, besides all necessary arrangements are put in place for the smooth conduct of the monsoon racing events.
Talking about the developmental works, Reddy said that construction of HRC's off course tote centre at Vijayawada with all modern facilities and amenities was in full swing and would start functioning soon.

A modern Tote centre at Lower Tank Bund Road in Hyderabad started functioning last month and in a phased manner all totecentres will be improved with better amenities for the punters.
The HRC was in the process of finalising the vendor self-vending betting kiosks to facilitate punters to bet through these machines through smart cards.
The facility will be made available to punters from the start of winter races 2016-17.