The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Horse : Bangalore races cancelled

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Thursday, Jan 24, 2008
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Sport - Racing : Horse

Bangalore races cancelled

Bangalore: The strike threat by the Karnataka Trainer’s Association (over conditions and the methodology adopted in handing out punishments at the Bangalore Turf Club) has resulted in this week-end’s races, including the Poonawalla Bangalore Derby being cancelled.

The official stand of the BTC for the cancellation is that there was a paucity of entries since trainers had withdrawn their entries. Disclosing the cancellation the Secretary of the BTC Nirmal Prasad said that the Club could not be held to ransom by any group.

Speaking to The Hindu the President of the Karnataka Trainer’s Association B. Puttanna said that though the trainers did not want to stop the winter season’s main classic they had no choice since the Stewards and Managing Committee of the BTC had not responded to the Association’s “repeated requests to set right the large number of anomalies”. “Over the last five to six years we have been communicating to the BTC the problems that we have been facing but no action has been initiated. How do we race under pressure?”

According to Mr. Puttanna the main problems relate to the medication rules for horses, the way enquiries are conducted, heavy fines and suspensions handed out and the lack of sufficient stables for two-year-olds.

“Trainers have already been to Pune to purchase two-year-olds. But with no stables available at the BTC for two-year-olds they do not know where to stable them. For the last three years we have been requesting the BTC Management to make some arrangements. But they have been putting off taking any decision. And the way they are suspending trainers is not right. For over 15 days we have been asking for a meeting.”

Responding to the charges, Mr. Prasad said that arrangements for stabling of two-year-olds both at Mysore and Bangalore were being sorted out, but the trainers were in a hurry. “Trainers want changes in medication rules to be discussed at the very next meeting and implemented within a time frame. This is difficult. Also, we have to a large extent relaxed the medication rules. But relaxation cannot be an endless process,” he added.

Hyderabad races advanced

The Board of Stewards of the Hyderabad Race Club has resolved to advance the races scheduled to be held here on Jan. 28 (Monday), to Jan. 26 (Saturday), according to a press release.

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