Night racing made a spectacular debut in India when Royal Western India Turf Club held three races under lights at Mahalaxmi on Saturday. The experiment was well received with the spectacle attracting thousands of people to the course. The race course which is generally deserted for most days of racing barring the Indian Derby saw a fairly big turnout, lured by the excitement of witnessing night racing for the first in India as also other facilities provided as a special case.

The turnout was encouraging for the club mandarins to consider making this as a regular feature. Of course this is subject to the increased attendance being a consistent feature with attendant benefits accruing by way of increased turn over at the club operated pools, strengthening the financial position of the club. These are early days and one has to wait and see for things to settle down before one take a practical view of the whole thing.

The inaugural race under lights, the 1000 metres Frozone Cup (Div I), a race for lowest category horses, produced a shocker with Dharmendar who hasn`t seen the winning post for ages recording a shock win through the friendless Mighty Splendor. Even for trainer Sandeep Mangalorkar who has forgotten the art of saddling winners, the unexpected win must have come as a great relief. Mighty Splendor produced a stunning gallop in the final furlong all by herself, tired by the endless wait for a positive push from the stable. Mighty Splendor dragged the long shot to victory with late finishing Spear of Trium edging out long time leader Sunshine Heart for the runner up berth. Blackbean, who came in for spirited betting, was not spotted at the busy end. The concluding race of the day held under light, saw the favourite suffer no hiccups and duly win the lower division of the race. Last outing winner Zafirah put in a speedy effort and led adamantly in front before being eased from that position by the favourite in the final furlong. Mystical Sunrise who was running after a longish break, finished third.

Trainer Antia who was been the despair of punters, found the day a good one as he recorded a double. Extreme Love was in the realm of fancied runners and the progeny of Noverre raced a handy second behind El Wonder before bursting clear to win the 1000 metres Cambay Tiger Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 66 to win as he pleased. The five year old is in great heart. Incentio who had given a knockout blow to punters who had backed him last time as his jockey had to failed to weigh in, resulting in him being disqualified, found a tartar in Extreme Love and had to settle for the second spot. Soothsayer ran on to finish third.

Malesh Narredu trained Staristocrat enjoyed the full faith of the public to oblige in the 1400 metres Cursetjee Dhunjishaw Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 to 86, the highest rated trophy event of the day. Staristocrat had won last month in impressive fashion beating horses which were subsequent winners. However, Staristocrat raced flat and was a beaten cause well before the final furlong. Long shot Ice Zone which led from the start held off the late flourish of Himalayan Queen by a neck. Staristocrat nosed out Free Speech to get the third place while the other fancied runner Simply Sweet ran a disappointing race.

Persian Prince was quoted at cramped odds to oblige in the 1400 metres Klairon Gold Plate (Div I), a race for maiden three year olds. Though Persian Prince was held way off the pace, the progeny of Arazan came up with a big run and won pulling up from Fearless Nadia. Dancing Pretty ran on from way behind to finish third. Karthik Ganapathy trained Saker proved too good for the opposition, taking control of the proceedings at the top of the straight and checking in well clear with hardly any aggressive effort on the part of jockey Sandesh in the lower division of the race. Vitesse was second ahead of Joss.

Dallas Todywalla trained Shaughnessy who came in for smart betting measured long time leader Magic Vision close home to land the spoils in the 1400 metres Quest For Cash Plate, a race for horses rated 20 to 46. Favourite Con Man proved to be one.

Hoshiyaar held off favourite El Camino to win the 2000 metres Night Crown Plate, a race for horses rated 40 to 66. In the process of doing so, Hoshiyaar did not maintain a straight course and drifted out and bumped El Camino in the process. The resultant objection of Trevor Patel against Sandesh who rode the winner was upheld.

Lesser fancied Nigella looked a winner all the way in the 1600 metres Bejan Bharucha Plate, except in the final stride as favourite Gaabrrio managed to head her home in the 1600 metres Bejan Bharucha Plate, a race for horses in the lowest class. Pretty Lights who was the ante post favourite lost supporters steadily to end up at long odds which itself indicated that the four year old filly will not be a serious contender in the race.