LAHORE, Feb 25: Racing connoisseurs will be delighted when they see a record number of horses taking part in the Derby Day races making it a tough competition on March 5.

The Lahore Race Club (LRC) has received the largest ever number of entries for the big day racing on the last day of receipt of entries, Saturday (Feb 25). Besides the Pakistan Derby 2006, there will be another four cup races.

They are: (1) Lahore Classic Cup for class II & III combined handicap race to be gone over 2000m.

(2) National Breeders Cup for three-year-old colts and fillies over 1400 metres.

(3) Stewards Cup for class IV over 1400 metres and (4) the LRC Cup for class V over 1400M.

Meanwhile the LRC has directed all owners and trainers to deposit entry fee of their horses by Sunday (Feb 26). And in case they do not want to run them in races, they should withdraw them by Monday (Feb 27).

Horses, who have been entered, without paying entry fee would not be allowed to run and scratched from the handicaps.

The order has been issued to ensure that no horse is withdrawn after the issuance of handicaps and publication of the race cards.

Last-minute withdrawals leave a bad impression on the visitors who attend the Derby on this memorable racing day.— A.G.