What: Calcutta Cold Weather Season 2017-2018, in association with The Telegraph
Where: Royal Calcutta Turf Club
When: On till March 29, 2018
What to expect: The winter racing calendar has over 150 races spread across 25 race days, which started on Saturday, November 4. This year the five-month Calcutta Cold Weather Season will have stake money of
Rs 9,93,60,000 (excluding the Invitation Cup Weekend) and the value of cups and trophies will add up to Rs 22,40,000 (excluding the Invitation Cup Weekend) . You can also participate in the Free Contest of Skill competition, which will be held every race day. Win gift vouchers by predicting correctly the winners in the fourth, fifth and sixth races of the day. To participate, purchase a phone badge, which will also permit you to carry your mobile phone into the club premises, and fill in the form given with the badge.
Not just horses, three big racing days will celebrate art, wheels and style too.
The Aakriti Art Gallery Calcutta 2000 Guineas (Grade II) on December 9 will be dedicated to art. In between races, you can visit an art exhibition and art camp, where artists will be painting live, at RCTC. After the races, an art auction will be held.
On December 16, women should dress to impress for The Calcutta Oaks (Grade III). There will also be a flea market and best hat and dress competitions.
On January 13, 2018, The Calcutta Champion Sprint Trophy (Grade III) will be the big race of the day, while the big attraction will be an exhibition of super cars and bikes on the club lawns. Speed lovers will need to buy some car or bike merchandise in order to enter the exhibition arena.
Passes: For the Members’ Enclosure, passes will be available for Rs 100 per head at the hospitality gate of the Members’ Enclosure. Mobile phones will be permitted into the racecourse only with a phone badge, which comes for
Rs 450 (plus tax).
Dress code: Men must wear shirt-tie-trousers or a suit. Though there isn’t a dress code for women, you can opt for smart casuals, nifty headgear and a statement neckpiece.
Organiser speak: “The Calcutta Cold Weather Season promises to be entertaining and competitive. We at RCTC are expecting big crowds. One will not only enjoy the thrill of races but also have fun with the different activities we have in the pipeline,” said Anit Casyab, deputy general manager, club and racing, RCTC.
Text: Malancha Dasgupta
BIG RACES OF THE WINTER CALENDAR
♦ November 25, 2017: The Calcutta 1000 Guineas
(Grade III)
♦ December 9, 2017: The Aakriti Art Gallery Calcutta 2000 Guineas
(Grade II)
♦ December 16, 2017: The Deepak Khaitan Memorial Calcutta Gold Cup (Grade II) and The Calcutta Oaks
(Grade III)
♦ January 1, 2018: The Eveready RCTC Gold Vase and The Indian Produce Stakes
♦ January 7, 2018: The Calcutta Derby Stakes
(Grade I) and The Dashmesh Stud Alokananda Stakes
♦ January 13, 2018: The Calcutta Champion Sprint Trophy (Grade III)
♦ January 23, 2018: The Indian Champion Cup (Grade I) and The Indian Champagne Stakes (Grade III)
♦ February 11, 2018: The Queen Elizabeth II Cup
(Grade III) and The Calcutta Million (Grade II)
♦ March 3 & 4, 2018: The Invitation Weekend
♦ March 17, 2018: The Calcutta St. Leger (Grade III)
