KARACHI: The next winter Gymkhana meeting will be held at the Karachi Racecourse on March 9, says an official announcement.

“The March 2 meeting has been put off to enable owners, turf accountants, riders and horses to travel to Lahore for the annual Pakistan Derby that takes place on March 3 (Sunday), an official of the Karachi Race Club (KRC) told Dawn on Friday.

He said quartet of horses belonging to the stables of owners Syed Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagara and Saeed Raza are in Lahore to compete in the Derby

Stable-mates Cigar Girl and Glittery Eyes belonged to the stables of Pir Pagara while Salam-e-Kaif and Shan-e-Kaif are owned by Raza. Cigar Girl was placed second in the Nursery Cup in December.

The KRC has permitted four riders — Sohail Ahmed, Mohammad Qais, Zaki Zakir and Mohammad Manzoor — to proceed to Lahore for the big spectacle.

It may be mentioned that Manzoor was declared best rider of 2018.

Some stewards of the KRC are also expected to visit Lahore to attend the event.

Like the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup, Pakistan Derby enjoys an important place in country’s equine sports.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2019