LAHORE, July 25: The Lahore Race Club (LRC) is to introduce two major Classics Pakistan Oaks and Pakistan St. Leger for thoroughbreds on the pattern of England, it was revealed here.

The two Classics will be held during the forthcoming Lahore Winter Meetings starting from September this year.

The Oaks gets its name from the annual race being held at Epsom Racecourse (England) for three-year-old fillies.

The Pakistan Oaks will be a term race for country bred four-year-old fillies to be run over 2400 metres at the Lahore Racecourse on Dec 7. All the runners must be foaled in 1999 and will carry 8-7 weight.

Similarly St. Leger is being initiated on the pattern of annual English St. Leger being run at Doncaster Racecourse (England) for three-year-old colts and fillies.

The Pakistan St. Leger will be a term race for four-year-old colts and fillies to be contested over 2800 metres on Dec 28. Colts and fillies foaled in 1999 will be eligible to take part in the race. Colts will carry 9-0 weight while the fillies will be entitled to 3 pounds allowance and will carry 8-11. Geldings are not eligble.

The LRC has notified for the information of all owners and trainers that the entries for both the events will be received by the club till Aug 14 next.

They have further been reminded that only those entry forms will be deemed valid which are certified by the LRC account office.

The notification said that it has been noticed that owners and trainers often put entry forms into the entries box without the certification by the accounts office, which is not proper and such forms will not be accepted from now onwards.