Works relating to the state-of-art off-course tote centre along with the administrative block of Hyderabad Race Club (HRC) have commenced at Enekipadu near city, according to off-course tote centre manager Phani Babu.
Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday, he said the four-storied building, coming up on an acre of land approved by the VUDA, will be completed next year. “It will have modern facilities for the benefit of the racing public who visit from all over the coastal districts. Air-conditioned counters will have huge television screens beaming the races. The facilities will be on par with the HRC,” he pointed out. Mr. Babu said the process of revenue sharing from racing has already begun from June last year when united Andhra Pradesh was officially bifurcated. “Nearly 40 per cent of the revenue generated from the 13 districts through tax is already reaching the exchequer of Andhra Pradesh. We have tote centres in Kurnool, Kakinada, Vizag, Guntur, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry.” He said experts felt that Vizag was apt as it has the necessary infrastructure and the weather is congenial for the horses to stay fit and healthy. “The capital city region is not conducive as the summers are severe here and the animals will face a lot of discomfort”.
Mr. Phani Babu said that the new directive of the Supreme Court was strict of ‘retired’, recuperating and non-working horses and the new law made the owners and the race clubs responsible for their welfare.