The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) is all set to roll out the 2025 Pune racing season with a thrilling nine-race card on Friday, July 18. After the recent high-octane scenes at Bangalore’s Summer Derby, all eyes now shift to Pune Race Course, where the turf action promises to be just as electric. The season opener marks the beginning of a four-month spectacle that will run through to Sunday, November 2.
Opening day features a well-rounded mix of sprint and middle-distance handicaps. The curtain-raiser is the Season Opener Plate (Division II), a 1000-metre dash for Class IV horses rated 20 to 46, followed by the Elegance Plate (Division II), restricted to older Indian horses rated 1 to 26 over 1200 metres. The third race is the Vibrant Plate (Division II) run over 1400 metres, again for Class IV competitors. Racegoers will then witness the Season Opener Plate (Division I), another 1000-metre dash, this time featuring a stronger field of the same class.
The latter half of the card includes the Elegance Plate (Division I), followed by a key maiden event—the D. K. Ashish Salver—exclusively for 3-year-olds. This 1200-metre race, which also allows foreign jockeys, is expected to produce some breakout performances. The most anticipated event of the day, however, is the Gamble For Love Trophy, a Class I contest for top-tier horses rated 80 and upward, offering a true test of talent over 1400 metres. The day wraps up with the Vibrant Plate (Division I) and the Columbia Plate for Class III contenders.
Beyond opening day, the Pune calendar is brimming with marquee races. July 25 will see the Classic Talk Plate take centre stage, setting the tone for a packed August that includes the Eve Champion Trophy, Truefitt & Hill Trophy, and Teena Katrak Memorial Independence Million. On August 16, the prestigious F.D. Wadia Trophy and Mysore Race Club Trophy will be key highlights, followed by the Idar Gold Trophy and Southern Command Trophy on August 31.
September’s stakes are just as high with standout events such as the Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy and the World’s Oldest Barbershop Trophy. The month also brings two celebrated Poonawalla races—the S.A. Poonawalla Million and Villoo C. Poonawalla Million—scheduled for September 14. Stamina will be the keyword on September 21, when runners contest the Indian St. Leger, one of the longest and most demanding races of the year.
The crown jewel of the season is the Pune Derby, scheduled for October 12, alongside the Noshir & Dolly Dhunjibhoy Sprint Million. The grand finale on November 2 is expected to draw significant attention, featuring the RWITC Ltd. Trophy, the General Rajendrasinhji Million, and the Delhi Race Club Trophy—a fitting close to what promises to be an exhilarating season.
