Eviction or shift is the question haunting BTC
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Eviction or shift is the question haunting BTC
Will this be the last full racing season that Bangalore Turf Club would conduct at its race course where racing has been held since 1905? This is the question upper most in the minds of race goers because the government has made it clear that it is not going to extend the lease beyond December 31, 2009 under any circumstance.
By Sharan Kumar
Will this be the last full racing season that Bangalore Turf Club would conduct at its race course where racing has been held since 1905? This is the question upper most in the minds of race goers because the government has made it clear that it is not going to extend the lease beyond December 31, 2009 under any circumstance. However, BTC Chairman P V Shetty exuded confidence at Press Conference on Thursday that government will extend the lease by two years at least by which time the new land which had been identified on way to the new Airport will become operational for conduct of racing. Shetty was also confident of getting concessions from the government in the form of tax holiday to fund the project. Nothing much has really happened since the government sent a notice to the club last year, terminating the lease at the end of December 31, 2009. Chief Minister Yeddyurappa reiterated on Thursday that there was no change in the stand of the government. ``We are firmly committed to moving the race course from its existing location. The turf club has made no serious efforts to re-locate. They were offered alternate land as early as 1968 but the club has not been responsive. There will be no more extensions and the government stands committed to its December 31 decision,’’ he told newsmen when queried about the fate of the Bangalore Turf Club. Incidentally, this was just after he met the Chairman of the Bangalore Turf Club and Secretary who made a representation to him. It was apparent from the statement from the Chief Minister that the government was not committed to allowing the turf club to operate from its existing premises till the alternate venue was ready.
The Malenahalli Plate which incidentally is one of the races programmed for the first week of Bangalore Summer Racing commencing on May 16 was the name of the place where the present race course is located. The race course land was leased by the then Maharaja of Mysore on a perpetual lease for the purpose of conducting racing activities only. However, thanks to infighting in the club, the authorities failed to maintain their independence as the government took control of the land and then leased it to BTC. At the beginning of last year, BTC signed a fresh lease agreement which made it binding on the part of the club to hand over its premises to the government and move out. With the alternate race course not in place, the word shift will now have to be interpreted as eviction. The turf club chairman believes that the club is capable of seeing through the problem. Be that as it may, the 26-day summer season promises exciting action. With good quality horses having been spread out with a number of trainers, competition is bound to be intense. Arjun Mangalorkar trained Aboline which won three races in a row is the highest rated three-year old at this point of time. The son of Burden of Proof proved too speedy on each of the three occasions that he was seen in action on the turf. He has been rated 73. There is no doubt about the class of Aboline but it remains to be seen how he carries his precocious form into classic winning performance. Gypsy Magic who ran behind Versaki has been the second highest three-year old at this centre. The temperamental Gypsy Magic has the ability to beat them all but the problem with her is that she is not focused. Gypsy Magic’s full brothers have all proved to be champions but none of the sisters have proved exceptional. It remains to be seen how Gypsy Magic shapes up in her second season. If there is any change in her attitude, she can beat them all. Classerville, Captivating and Cielo Rey are the others who follow Aboline in the rating sheet. The last named made a sensational debut during the fag end of the season and he is rated as one the very best in Bangalore. This is a view which is shared by many. Among the others, despite blocking his copy book, D’Artagnan who ran third in his second outing, has tons of talent but he still seems immature but has scope of being a classic performer. Becket is a got-abroad who is highly rated by the stable. Trainer Ganapathy, who had a lean season during the winter, is expected to bounce back if only because the horses which ran second in maiden races are all capable of picking up a race or two. Ganapathy has a few top quality three-year olds which may prove to be classic types and among them is Star of Marmalade who is a full brother to the celebrated Mystical. Karthik Ganapathy’s The Pearl is another horse which bears watching. Trainer Arjun Mangalorkar had a glorious winter season but he still has a few horses which are capable of keeping him in the limelight. Set Alight who blotted her copybook by her loss in the Indian Derby, should dominate the races meant for four-year olds and over. Interestingly, a racegoer who has made extensive study on the influence of pedigree and the planetary impact on the performance of a horse was of the opinion that Set Alight was destined to lose the Derby because of the date and timing of the race! Set Alight will no doubt prove that her loss in the Indian Derby is only an aberration and she should win the major plums during the season. Another import from Mumbai, Dancing Dynamite is a late arriver at Bangalore but the son of Glory of Dancer who was unlucky to lose to Autonomy in the Indian 2000 Guineas, should make his mark over trips upto nine furlongs. Rhapsidion Snow is another who is outstanding over middle distance races. She will be seen in action on Sunday and judging by her current form and fitness, she will be hard to beat.
Eviction or shift is the question haunting BTC
Will this be the last full racing season that Bangalore Turf Club would conduct at its race course where racing has been held since 1905? This is the question upper most in the minds of race goers because the government has made it clear that it is not going to extend the lease beyond December 31, 2009 under any circumstance.
By Sharan Kumar
Will this be the last full racing season that Bangalore Turf Club would conduct at its race course where racing has been held since 1905? This is the question upper most in the minds of race goers because the government has made it clear that it is not going to extend the lease beyond December 31, 2009 under any circumstance. However, BTC Chairman P V Shetty exuded confidence at Press Conference on Thursday that government will extend the lease by two years at least by which time the new land which had been identified on way to the new Airport will become operational for conduct of racing. Shetty was also confident of getting concessions from the government in the form of tax holiday to fund the project. Nothing much has really happened since the government sent a notice to the club last year, terminating the lease at the end of December 31, 2009. Chief Minister Yeddyurappa reiterated on Thursday that there was no change in the stand of the government. ``We are firmly committed to moving the race course from its existing location. The turf club has made no serious efforts to re-locate. They were offered alternate land as early as 1968 but the club has not been responsive. There will be no more extensions and the government stands committed to its December 31 decision,’’ he told newsmen when queried about the fate of the Bangalore Turf Club. Incidentally, this was just after he met the Chairman of the Bangalore Turf Club and Secretary who made a representation to him. It was apparent from the statement from the Chief Minister that the government was not committed to allowing the turf club to operate from its existing premises till the alternate venue was ready.
The Malenahalli Plate which incidentally is one of the races programmed for the first week of Bangalore Summer Racing commencing on May 16 was the name of the place where the present race course is located. The race course land was leased by the then Maharaja of Mysore on a perpetual lease for the purpose of conducting racing activities only. However, thanks to infighting in the club, the authorities failed to maintain their independence as the government took control of the land and then leased it to BTC. At the beginning of last year, BTC signed a fresh lease agreement which made it binding on the part of the club to hand over its premises to the government and move out. With the alternate race course not in place, the word shift will now have to be interpreted as eviction. The turf club chairman believes that the club is capable of seeing through the problem. Be that as it may, the 26-day summer season promises exciting action. With good quality horses having been spread out with a number of trainers, competition is bound to be intense. Arjun Mangalorkar trained Aboline which won three races in a row is the highest rated three-year old at this point of time. The son of Burden of Proof proved too speedy on each of the three occasions that he was seen in action on the turf. He has been rated 73. There is no doubt about the class of Aboline but it remains to be seen how he carries his precocious form into classic winning performance. Gypsy Magic who ran behind Versaki has been the second highest three-year old at this centre. The temperamental Gypsy Magic has the ability to beat them all but the problem with her is that she is not focused. Gypsy Magic’s full brothers have all proved to be champions but none of the sisters have proved exceptional. It remains to be seen how Gypsy Magic shapes up in her second season. If there is any change in her attitude, she can beat them all. Classerville, Captivating and Cielo Rey are the others who follow Aboline in the rating sheet. The last named made a sensational debut during the fag end of the season and he is rated as one the very best in Bangalore. This is a view which is shared by many. Among the others, despite blocking his copy book, D’Artagnan who ran third in his second outing, has tons of talent but he still seems immature but has scope of being a classic performer. Becket is a got-abroad who is highly rated by the stable. Trainer Ganapathy, who had a lean season during the winter, is expected to bounce back if only because the horses which ran second in maiden races are all capable of picking up a race or two. Ganapathy has a few top quality three-year olds which may prove to be classic types and among them is Star of Marmalade who is a full brother to the celebrated Mystical. Karthik Ganapathy’s The Pearl is another horse which bears watching. Trainer Arjun Mangalorkar had a glorious winter season but he still has a few horses which are capable of keeping him in the limelight. Set Alight who blotted her copybook by her loss in the Indian Derby, should dominate the races meant for four-year olds and over. Interestingly, a racegoer who has made extensive study on the influence of pedigree and the planetary impact on the performance of a horse was of the opinion that Set Alight was destined to lose the Derby because of the date and timing of the race! Set Alight will no doubt prove that her loss in the Indian Derby is only an aberration and she should win the major plums during the season. Another import from Mumbai, Dancing Dynamite is a late arriver at Bangalore but the son of Glory of Dancer who was unlucky to lose to Autonomy in the Indian 2000 Guineas, should make his mark over trips upto nine furlongs. Rhapsidion Snow is another who is outstanding over middle distance races. She will be seen in action on Sunday and judging by her current form and fitness, she will be hard to beat.
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