LAHORE: A tightly handicapped card of eight events, featuring two cup races, will be decided during the 21st Lahore Winter Meeting at the Racecourse here on Sunday.

The race meeting looks unique in many ways as it is being held at a time when a spell of extreme cold wave is gripping the city and the race-goers are having to brave the harsh weather conditions to get consolation in watching over three dozen thoroughbreds jostling for supremacy in four out of eight events drawn for the afternoon racing.

The line-up of these events include a few reputed colts and fillies undergoing preparatory run before their participation in the forthcoming classic events and will surely provide high class equine entertainment to connoisseur’s delight.

In particular is the Thrill Cup, a handicap race for Class V and Class IV (Combined) runners to be contested over 1,600 metres.

Among its seven starters is Karachi’s wonder filly Celebrity, owned by Pir of Pagara Syed Sibghatullah Shah, who will be measuring her strides with six local turf stars in a classic show down for the top honours to give the event national colour.

In her maiden appearance at the Lahore turf, the rightly named Celebrity will find her main challenger in Big Bravo one of the main local hopes for the classic events ahead.

The Blooming Maid Cup, a term race for three-year-old (Maidens) to be sprinted over 1,000 metres will be an additional attraction besides the Murree Plate Handicap for class VI horses divided in two events — Murree Plate Class VI Division I and II has seven runners including nurstling colts — Moj Garh, Can’t Deny and bay horse Gold Coast and mare Whistling Wind.

With handsome slice of stake money on offer the events are expected to guarantee a thoroughly enjoyable sports contests.

Four races will be contested over 1,200 metres, three over the distance of 1,000 metres and one over 1,600 metres. The first race will be held at 12.00noon.

Meanwhile, the Lahore Race Club (LRC) stewards have taken a commendable step to grant a seven pound handicap relief to apprentice riders while competing against A category riding boys in races belonging to Class VII division v and division IV.

All riders having won five races will be placed in category A group.

In another decision notified on Saturday LRC stewards have made it compulsory for every owner to try both horses, if running in the same event, provided they have already won a race. Failing to do so will have to pay the penalty.

The decisions have been taken in view of raising the standard of riding and races alike. Already a meeting of stake-holders comprising owners, donors, and racing officials presided over by steward Masud Pervez is held prior to races each day to mark the chance horses in each race and make it compulsory for owners to try those to make the sports transparent, competitive and malpractice free. It has yielded positive results to help eradicate malpractices.

Following is the field and selections:

THE MURREE PLATE CLASS VII DIV V — 1,000M:

Lucky Sohna 8-10, Killing Eyes 8-10, Dheeray Dheeray 8-10, Phir Ek Bar 8-8, Aye Anmole 8-8, Mascot 8-6, War Lords 8-4 Suzain 8-4, Queen Esmeralda 8-4, Artistic Flight 8-2, Black Shadow 8-0, Accurate Moon Star 7-8, Salanty 7-8. Win: Suzain. Place: Phir Ek Bar and Artistic Flight. Upset: Lucky Sohna.

THE MURREE PLATE CLASS VII DIV IV — 1,200M:

Talha Prince 8-12, Bahar Ul Kahil 8-12, Tera Karam 8-10, Ocean Pearl 8-8, True Man 8-6, Right Time 8-4, Madelia 8-4, Al Warda 8-2, Daniel Bryan 8-2, Party Time 8-2, Victory 7-12, Chal Samney 7-4, Aie Guriya 7-4. Win: Party Time. Place: Right Time and Talha Prince. Upset: Victory.

THE MURREE PLATE CLASS VII DIV II & III — 1,200M:

King Of Gulbahar 8-12, Shamus Baba 8-12, Top Shot 8-10, Amir Queen 8-10, Babe De Pari 8-10, Crazy Cat Lady 8-10, Mid Night 8-10, Love Master 8-10, Fire Fly 8-10, Maria 8-10, Do More Action 8-6, New Prince 8-4, Mehbooba 8-4, Artghal 8-0, National Time 8-0, Prince Wasim 7-8, Rawal Naz 7-8. Win: Do More Action. Place: Top Shot and Artghal. Upset: Amir Queen.

THE MURREE PLATE CLASS VII DIV I — 1,200M:

Satpara 9-2, Chan Makhna 9-0, Honey The Great 9-0, Blue Max 8-10, Collateral 8-10, Badshah 8-6, Qalandri 8-2, Race The Moon 8-2, Happy Girl 7-8. Win: Chan Makhna. Place: Badshah and Blue Max.

THE BLOOMING MAID CUP — A TERM RACE FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD (PAKISTANI-BRED COLTS AND FILLIES — 1,200M:

Dance Alone 8-8, Thal Da Badshah 8-8, Raees Of Bhakkar 8-8, Voice Of Silence 8-8, Delectable 8-5, Mighty Wings 8-5, Mighty Sattiana 8-1. Win & Place: Watch the ring.

THE THRILL CUP CLASS IV (CLASS V INCLUDED) — 1,600M:

Hidden Pearl 9-4, Lenin 9-4, Duniya Dubai 8-6, Celebrity (KRC) 8-4, Big Bravo 8-4, Show Car 7-12, Class Leader 7-12. Win: Big Bravo. Place: Lenin and Celebrity.

THE MURREE PLATE CLASS VI DIV III & IV — 1,000M:

Profitable 9-0, Sultan-e-Muazzam 8-12, Prince Of Line 8-10, Admiral’s Walk 8-10, Big Faith 8-8, Danzig Gold 8-8, Milan 8-8, Atlantic Queen 8-8, Palmers 8-8, Mighty Dot 8-2, Vegas 8-0, Mighty Hawk 7-12, Exotic Prince 7-12, Eagle Rock 7-10, Shake The World 7-10, Playful 7-8. Win: Profitable. Place: Vegas and Admiral’s Walk.

THE MURREE PLATE CLASS VI DIV I & II — 1,000M:

Moj Garh 8-2, Can’t Deny 8-12, Proposal 8-6, Gold Coast 8-6, Whistling Wind 7-12, Muskarahat 7-10, Spinning Pearl 7-10. Win: Mojgarh. Place: Gold Coast and Can’t Deny.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2017