A joint press conference was held today at the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC), where the Managing Committee of BTC, in association with Mr. Zavaray S. Poonawalla, announced details of the much-anticipated Bangalore Winter Meeting 2025–26.
Scheduled to commence on Saturday, November 1, 2025, the Winter Meeting will feature 24 race days, with races predominantly held on Fridays and Saturdays. The upcoming season promises to be one of the grandest in recent years, blending sporting excellence with rich tradition.
BTC Committee members expressed their gratitude to Mr. Zavaray S. Poonawalla, whose continued generosity has elevated the upcoming season. His contribution has ensured that BTC will host the richest Winter Classics in its history.
The Minimum Guaranteed Stakes for the season’s premier events are:
The Bangalore 1000 Guineas, The Bangalore 2000 Guineas, and The Bangalore Oaks – ₹40 lakhs each
The Bangalore Winter Derby – ₹1.5 crores
Mr. Poonawalla will contribute 30% of the above stakes and has also offered an additional ₹1 crore to offset any potential reduction in prize money due to cost-cutting and GST measures.
For the 2025–26 Winter Meeting, 125 jockeys have been licensed, including 61 with ‘A’ licenses and 64 with ‘B’ licenses. About 100 jockeys are expected to ride during the season. In addition, 31 ‘A’-licensed trainers will be participating in the meeting.
BTC announced enhanced prize money for Sweepstakes Races, totaling ₹1.08 crore, with major trophies including:
The Rajyotsava Trophy – ₹10,00,000
The New Year Cup (Gr-III) – ₹15,00,000
The Bangalore Juvenile Million (Gr-III) – ₹15,00,000
The Bangalore Winter Million and The Governor’s Trophy – ₹10,00,000 each
For Classic Races, the total guaranteed purse stands at ₹2.7 crores, featuring:
Bangalore 1000 Guineas (Gr II) – ₹40 lakhs
Bangalore 2000 Guineas (Gr II) – ₹40 lakhs
Bangalore Oaks (Gr II) – ₹40 lakhs
Bangalore Derby (Gr I) – ₹1.5 crores
The aggregate prize money for the 24 race days is an impressive ₹13.84 crores.
A total of 57 trophies will be presented, valued at ₹23 lakhs, covering Sweepstakes, Handicap, and Maiden races.
BTC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining racing integrity.
Jockeys will continue to undergo breath analyser tests before every race day.
Blood and urine tests will be conducted for the first three placed horses in all Graded Races.
Additionally, blood samples from at least one-third of randomly selected horses will be tested for prohibited substances.
Board of Appeal Reconstituted
The Board of Appeal has been reconstituted with effect from September 29, 2025, and comprises:
Mr. Vivek G. Ubhayakar – Chairman
Mr. Y. Jagannath
Mr. Satish N. Gowda
Mr. K. Jayaram
Mr. Ranjan Chona
The Managing Committee thanked patrons, sponsors, and racing professionals for their continued support. The Club reaffirmed its dedication to promoting Indian racing and breeding, ensuring that the sport continues to reach greater heights.
The prospectus for the 2026–27 Classic Races will be published shortly.
Stay tuned to RaceBuzz for more information and highlights from the racing season.
