The Pune racing season returns on Friday, July 17, with a seven-race card opening a four-month programme at Pune Racecourse. Organised by the Royal Western India Turf Club, the Pune Meeting 2026 will feature 12 race meetings and nine Special Race Days before concluding on Sunday, November 15.
The annual monsoon meeting remains an important part of the Indian racing calendar, bringing together established performers, emerging three-year-olds and leading professionals from across the country. The programme includes a series of valuable handicaps, maiden contests and major Grade races spread across the season.
Opening-day proceedings will feature seven races, with The Dr. S. R. Captain Salver serving as the principal event. The Class I handicap will be contested over 1,400 metres and is supported by The Season Opener Plate, divided into two divisions, along with The Columbia Plate, The D. K. Ashish Salver, The Elegance Plate and The Certainty Plate.
Racing is scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm with the first division of The Season Opener Plate, while The Dr. S. R. Captain Salver will be run at 2:30 pm. The feature race has drawn Western Star, Market King, Irish Gold, Kavya and Sovereign King.
The Columbia Plate has attracted a competitive Class III field, while The Certainty Plate will offer several Indian three-year-olds their first opportunity to race. The division of The Season Opener Plate into two races also reflects the number of entries received for the opening programme.
Several established jockeys and trainers will be represented on the first day. P. Trevor, Antony Raj S., A. Sandesh, Suraj Narredu, C. S. Jodha, K. Nazil and N. S. Parmar are among the declared riders.
The trainers represented include Narendra Lagad, Dallas Todywalla, Adhirajsingh Jodha, P. S. Chouhan, M. K. Jadhav and Aman Altaf Hussain.
Following the opening meeting, the first Special Race Day is scheduled for July 24. The programme will gather momentum in August, beginning with the Eve Champion Trophy (Grade 3) and the Altaf Hussain Million on August 2.
According to the official RWITC prospectus, the Eve Champion Trophy carries total prize money of ₹15 lakh, while the Altaf Hussain Million is worth ₹10 lakh.
The Yohan Z. Poonawalla Turf Club Trophy (Grade 3) will follow on August 8, before the Teena Katrak Memorial Independence Million is staged on August 15. The Yohan Z. Poonawalla Turf Club Trophy carries total prize money of ₹15 lakh, while the Independence Million offers ₹10 lakh.
The season will also feature several of Indian racing’s major contests, including the F. D. Wadia Trophy (Grade 3), Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million (Grade 3), S. A. Poonawalla Million (Grade 3), Indian St. Leger (Grade 1), Threptin Fillies’ & Mares’ Stakes (Grade 3) and Villoo C. Poonawalla Pune Derby (Grade 1).
The meeting will conclude on November 15 with the Burgundy Mantra Luxury Line RWITC Ltd Trophy (Grade 2).
The official calendar lists regular race meetings on July 17; August 15, 16 and 29; September 6, 13 and 20; October 2, 11, 18 and 31; and November 5. Special Race Days will be staged alongside these fixtures during the four-month season.
With a seven-race opening card and a programme featuring several important Grade races, the Pune Meeting 2026 is set to provide regular racing from July through to the closing meeting in November.
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