What: Calcutta Monsoon Meeting 2018, in association with The Telegraph

Where: Royal Calcutta Turf Club

On till: October 13

With the onset of the monsoon racing season, RCTC is the go-to destination for speed thrills from hooves. There will be a total of 126 races, 25 of which are Cup Races. The meet is being held over 18 non-consecutive days and the first monsoon track in India was laid down at RCTC in 1879. Even today, racing isn’t disrupted, no matter how much it rains.

Mumbai-based Pesi Shroff and Bangalore-based Neil Darasha, trainers of champion racehorses, will be at RCTC with their horses for the monsoon season. The competition this year is expected to not only be tougher but also better. The advertised stake money for the Monsoon Meeting 2018, including the Cup Races, is Rs 56,756,000.

Apart from catching the high-on-adrenaline races, making a style statement and enjoying good food, one can also participate in the Free Contest of Skill, which will be held on every race day. By correctly predicting the winners of the fourth, fifth and sixth races of the day, one would be able to win gift vouchers. To participate, you need  to buy a phone badge — in order to be able to carry a mobile phone into the club premises — and fill in the form that will be given with the badge.

Passes: For the Members’ Enclosure, passes are available for Rs 100 per person at the hospitality gate of the venue. Mobile phones are not permitted in the racecourse without a phone badge, which costs Rs 150 (plus taxes).

Dress code: Men must be in smart casuals. Though there isn’t a dress code for women, smart dresses, trendy headgear and statement neckpieces are the key to standing out in the stylish crowd.

Organiser quote: “Like every year, we are looking for an action-packed Monsoon Meeting 2018 and our patrons are sure to get some thrilling races to watch this season. With the races being so competitive, we are hoping to see some great thoroughbreds coming down from other clubs to compete and make the races more exciting. Amit Chaturvedi, clerk of course and general manager, racing, RCTC, has been maintaining the tracks well,” said Anit Casyab, deputy general manager, club and racing, RCTC.

FOR YOUR MONSOON DERBY DATE, TAKE A CUE FROM HOW THESE CELEBRITIES DRESSED FOR THE RACES

Text: Malancha Dasgupta