A competitive seven-race Friday programme awaits at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC), with racing set to unfold from early afternoon through to the close of play. The meeting is headed by the Indian Champion Cup (Grade I), the day’s feature event, scheduled for 4:00 PM and run over 2000 metres for four-year-olds and older horses. As the standout contest on the card, it offers the highest prize money of the afternoon, with a total purse of Rs. 59,00,000.
Racing will begin at 01:30 PM, with the programme designed to rise steadily in quality and prize value as the afternoon progresses. The card will feature a mix of handicaps across different classes, an age-restricted contest for three-year-olds, and a strong emphasis on middle-distance racing, ensuring a balanced and structured meeting at RCTC.
The opening race will be the Ophion Handicap, a Class V event for horses rated 1–26 over 1200 metres, carrying total prize money of Rs.3,00,000. Blaze In Blue, Mohsin, Mountain Gold, Soul Aquarian, and Sensations will be set to contest the sprint, providing the first competitive test of the day.
At 02:00 PM, the Aggregated Plate will be run over 1100 metres and restricted to three-year-olds only, with prize money set at Rs.11,00,000. Silver Dream, Starliner, Rambha, and Seona will line up in a compact field, with the contest expected to offer early indicators of developing talent within the age group.
The Police Cup will follow at 02:30 PM as a Class IV contest over 1400 metres for horses rated 21–46, carrying total prize money of Rs.4,00,000. Sky Hawk, Brave Majesty, Immortal Beauty, Mi Arion, and Zambezi will be tasked with handling the longer distance as the standard of competition continues to rise.
Middle-distance racing will take centre stage at 03:00 PM with the Zelda Cup, a Class III race over 1600 metres, offering prize money of Rs.5,00,000. Booster Shot, Stormy Ocean, Galway Girl, True Faith, and Victorious Omen will be expected to deliver a closely matched contest, with tactical positioning likely to play a key role.
The quality will increase further at 03:30 PM with the Albert Piperno Memorial Cup, a Class II event over 2000 metres carrying prize money of Rs.5,50,000. Karanveer, Ruling Star, Zarak, and Whirlwind will face a demanding stamina test, providing a strong lead-in to the feature race later in the afternoon.
The Indian Champion Cup (Grade I) will then be staged at 04:00 PM over 2000 metres, with a total purse of Rs.59,00,000. Cashius Gold, Casteel, Duke Of Tuscany, Golden Kingdom, and High Command will form a high-quality field, and the race will stand as the clear highlight of the Kolkata Race Cards 23 January.
The meeting will conclude at 04:30 PM with the Dancing Phoenix Handicap, a Class IV contest over 1400 metres, offering prize money of Rs.4,00,000. Positivity, Keitaro, Jimmy Bee, Sporting Trainer, and Cristaldo will be set to bring the seven-race Friday programme to a competitive close.
Overall, the Kolkata Race Cards 23 January will offer a well-balanced and progressive programme, building from lower-class handicaps with modest purses to a Grade I centrepiece with substantial prize money. With clearly defined class divisions, varied distances, and a prestigious feature race at its core, the Royal Calcutta Turf Club meeting will be expected to provide sustained interest throughout the afternoon.
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