LAHORE, Feb 24: A tricky card of six events has been drawn for the mid-week Lahore Gymkhana races to get underway at the Racecourse on Wednesday.

Each race has at least half-a-dozen form horses on equal chance to make winner-picking a difficult task for the bettors.

The first and feature event, the Kahna Plate, class VI division III and IV combined handicap race to go over 1,000 metres, has a dozen horses, barring last-minute withdrawals. Nearly half of them are on chance.

A close and minute assessment of each runner could reduce the number to a quartet, namely, Mama Mia, Pretty Mehak, Pawan Princess and Victory Jana. All are genuinely speedy animals. The handicap, however, goes in favour of Pawan Princess and Victory Janu.

The way the unknown bay filly Pawan Princess won on her last outing, she should make it a two-in-a-row. The rest should fight for places.

A horse’s performance on the track is a true indication of its ability and chances in a race. But many trainers and owners are very secretive and try to hide the exact state of preparation of their charges to hoodwink the racing pundits, who in majority of the cases had an affect on the odds of runners in the betting ring.

Still there is one basic element, which counts more than anything else. It is called handicapping, which is a way to govern horseracing by assigning weights to be carried on by a horse.

It has been seen that even the leading and big owners often fail to solve the handicap knot to pick the wrong one, if more than one of their horses are taking part in a race. There may be other reasons too.

If this is the case, then how can an ordinary race fan be able to solve the handicap puzzle? If one has some knowledge of handicapping, classification and horses pedigree, he would try to keep himself away from betting or very rarely bet because betting is not a good proposition. The more one understands racing, the more he will keep himself away from betting. Horse-racing is a good pastime and a thrilling sport to enjoy, if one has time and money.

There are nine contestants in the second and supporting event, the Kahna Plate, class VI division IV. None of them is a consistent performer. On their old and present form, Regulation and Tara Aaya and Victory Rose Look good to fight it out.

My One, Best Owner and Golden Falcon are the pick of the biggest field of 16 runners in the third race. They should fight for picking up the spoils in the same order too.

The fourth, fifth and sixth races comprise many form horses and some close contests and tight finishes are expected to provide racing connoisseurs with several thrills.

All events are to be contested over the sprinting distance of 1,000 metres.

Following is the field and our selections:

KAHNA PLATE CLASS VI

DIV III & IV 1,000M:

Ever Smiling 9-2, Mama Mia 9-0, Brave & Beautiful 8-13, Pretty Mehak 8-11, Ouija Board 8-11, Armida 8-5, Wrestler 8-3, Never Fail 8-3, Dream Land 7-13, Pawan Princess 7-13, Candidate 7-11 and Victory Janu 7-8.

Win: Pawan Princess.

Place: Pretty Mehak and Victory Janu.

KAHNA PLATE CLASS VI

DIV IV 1,000M:

Regulation 9-0, Black King 9-0, Victory Rose 9-0, Welcome Mayla 9-0, Tara Aya 8-11, Sun Shine 8-10, Sharoon Prince 8-10, Company 8-4 and Batista 8-4.

Win: Regulation.

Place: Victory Rose and Tara Aya.

KASUR PLATE CLASS VII DIV I 1,000M:

Golden Falcon 9-4, Sana My Love 8-12, Victory Tiger 8-10, Best Owner 8-8, My One 8-7, Chocolate Boy 8-4, Lucky Kiswa 8-4, Book Bet 8-4, Sohail 8-4, Mamoo 8-4, Karmawali 8-4, Quicke 8-0, Puma Love 8-0, Mona Liza 8-0, Kathmandu 8-0 and Rukhsar 8-0.

Win: My One.

Place: Golden Falcon and Best Owner.

KASUR PLATE CLASS VII

DIV II & III 1,000M:

Penny Aie 9-0, Sherni 9-0, Once More 9-0, Unique 9-0, Nain Tara 9-0, Accurate 9-0, Thakar 8-13, Pretty 8-13, Lucky Dancer 8-11, Dandy Boy 8-10, Lado 8-10, Umair Prince 8-10, Red Byron 8-10, Anarkali 8-6 and Good Idea 7-12.

Win: Good Idea.

Place: Unique and Thakar.

KASUR PLATE CLASS VII

DIV III 1,000M:

Dream Queen 9-0, Cat Walk 8-10, Shan-e-Shan 8-10, Abeer-e-Sehar 8-7, Aruna Laila 8-6, Qwais Love 8-6, Fair Lady 8-2, Bobby 8-2, Best Choice 8-2, Kiss Of Love 8-2, Gypsy 8-2, Sana 7-8, Bagh-o-Bahar 7-8 and King’s UK 7-8.

Win: Dream Queen.

Place: Saad Prince and Gypsy.

KASUR PLATE CLASS VII

DIV IV 1,000M:

Shokey Dil 9-0, Aie Bahar 9-0, Raftar-e-Sehar 8-10, Piyari Guriya 8-10, Bhola Bhala 8-6, Sudden Attack 8-6, Partner Choice 8-6, Master Jee 8-2, Best Boy 8-0 and Pakistani 7-8.

Win: Sudden Attack.

Place: King Of Ring and Best Boy.