September 23, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 22, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 22: The Lahore Race Club (LRC) on Monday released a comprehensive schedule for winter meetings, which are already in progress since Sept 7.

The 35-meeting programme will end on May 3 next year to be followed by summer meetings.

The LRC has offered attractive prizes in cash and prestige for the runners grabbing first three positions, classified in different categories, classics, semi-classics, terms and handicap races.

The eight-month programme is studded with cup events featuring one or more cups a day depending upon club’s financial position and the availability of sponsorship by national and multinational establishments and sports lovers.

The terms and conditions, and distance of races have clearly been defined in the prospectus issued by the club on Sept 22.

The amount of money to be awarded in the form of stake-money in each class and their divisions for the first three position winners have clearly been indicated except those for term races.

The most important events of the 2008-09 racing calendar will be the Pakistan Derby to be held on March 8 and the Jinnah Cup scheduled to be staged on Dec 28.

The other notable events are: Zaheeruddin Mohammad Babar Cup (Nov 23), Tariq Bin Zyad Cup (Nov 23), Khalid Bin Waleed Cup (Nov 30), Ghaznavi Cup (Jan 11), Qutubuddin Aibak Cup (Jan 25), Derby Trials (Fed 22), Bin Qasim Cup (Feb 22), Derby Trials (Feb 22), Eclipse Stakes Of Pakistan (March 22) and Lahore Classic Cup (April 19).

Besides, many other cup events have also been listed for different classes, classic, semi-classic and terms races.

Khawaja M. Arif, a steward of the Lahore Race Club, told Dawn that the programme had been designed carefully under the guidance of LRC chairman Tariq Aziz.

The steward said some changes had been made and distances of races had been altered keeping in view the suggestions of owners and to dispense justice and fair play by providing equal opportunities to the owners, whose horses are to compete.

He said no changes would be made in the announced schedule and the terms and conditions, and the distances set for the events would be strictly adhered to.