Speed spectacle: What The Telegraph Punters’ Corner predicted on Saturday morning, the afternoon race played out. Blazing Spectacle (with jockey in yellow) owned by M.A.M. Ramaswamy, ‘blazed’ home with the TT30 Cup in the 1,200m race. And for those who put their money on the The Telegraph’s predictions, it was time for celebration. Pictures by Anindya Shankar Ray

What: TT30 Cup Race, presented by the Royal Calcutta Turf Club, partnered by Signature, on September 29.

Birthday bash: There were seven races on the cards, with race No. 6 being the big one of the day — TT30 Cup. This race was named so to mark 30 years of The Telegraph.

As the bells rang out announcing the start of each race, the anticipation on each and every face in the stands followed by “oohs”, “aahs”, happy jigs and high fives made for a typical race-day atmosphere. For newbies, it was about crazy calculations and lucky guesses, for the veterans it was all about experience.

“My father owned horses and that’s how I got interested in them and the races. The TT30 Cup is a really good initiative towards raising awareness about horse racing. I feel Calcutta is still lagging behind in that regard,” smiled horse lover and polo player Deepshikha Pasari.

Monsoon Meet: The TT30 Cup was part of the monsoon racing season, which stretches from August to October. And since a Monsoon Meeting without a spot of rain is quite unheard of, the skies opened up just at the end of the TT30 Cup Race.

Drenched yes, but the mood wasn’t dampened even one bit as guests trotted off into an evening of music.

TT30 Contest: Ahead of the big day, The Telegraph ran an SMS contest for its readers. Fifty winners received couple passes for the races and musical do.

“Though we aren’t making money with the bets, this has been thoroughly enjoyable,” laughed Edward Dunne, a resident of Hiland Park. “I feel really lucky to be one of the 50 winners! My wife, Jennifer, and I love the atmosphere at RCTC and come here often,” he added.

Looking forward: If it’s a birthday bash, shouldn’t someone make a wish? Well, for the members of RCTC, some of their wishes are all set to come true.

OF Grasses green and blue: City-based pop-funk band Crystal Grass rolled out old English numbers to set the mood for the TT30 Cup evening celebrations. Right from Creedence Clearwater Revival or CCR and The Beatles of the 1960s to ABBA of the ’70s and Michael Jackson, the six-member band made some memorable music. Bodhisattwa Ghosh on lead guitar, Souvik Gupta on keyboard, Tania Sen and Satyajit Dasgupta on vocals, Rohit Nandi on drums and Prosanto Mahato on bass guitar made sure the guests clapped and jived to the beats of Madonna’s Material Girl and Elvis Presley’s Blue Suede Shoes and shook a leg or two too. To go with the music and tipple were yummies from 6 Ballygunge Place, like Shawarma and Fish Cordon Bleu, rounded off with Caramel Custard.

A new stand with five lavishly designed corporate boxes, to be opened by the end of October, promises to be a galloping success. The facilities beyond the stand are sure to wow members too. “A well-equipped gym, a billiards and bridge room, a restaurant-cum-bar and finally a banquet hall for those conferences and meetings one would love to host on the greens will be on offer. Named the Reserved Stands, this space will be open only to members,” said Anit Casyab, the assistant general manager (racing) and commentator.

But all these changes don’t mean that members will lose access to the current stands with their “lucky boxes” that they hold so dear.

Sreyoshi Dey and Neha Banka