Rain and jockeys force cancellation of four races
The day began ominously with dark clouds and steady drizzle soaking the track much before action began at 2.30 p.m. Three races went through without any hitch but just as the horses were to arrive for the fourth race, it started to rain. The rain intensified into a downpour and it lasted for half an hour. Rain stopped completely thereafter and one was expecting the horses to come out but the jockeys conveyed to the authorities that they were not willing to ride as they felt the track was going to be pretty bad after the rain.
Chief Stipendiary Steward Raman went on an inspection by walking round the track and quite evidently he saw no reason for races to be cancelled judging by the announcement of re-scheduled start. However, the jockeys refused to budge and jockey P S Chouhan went round with a lead horse to ascertain the fitness of track for racing. With the authorities unsuccessfully persuading the jockeys to ride, it became apparent that the remainder of the races would get washed away. It would have helped everyone if the authorities had announced cancellation of racing when it poured heavily because in recent times, jockeys have been very fussy about underfoot conditions. In the past racing has been held in far worse conditions as rain has been an intergral part of Bangalore Summer Racing. Despite 17 inches of rain over the week, the Kingfisher Derby was gone through and Ministrella literally swam her way to victory!
Things have changed dramatically in the last few years. Authority is no longer respected and every decision of theirs is either disputed or diluted because of threat of disruption of racing. With good monsoon predicted this year, quite a few race days are bound to be affected by the mindset of the jockeys more than the soft underfoot conditions. The character of the Bangalore track has remained the same in the last three decades and as such, today’s decision by the jockeys and the Stewards would not have held water! In fact, the President of Jockeys Association Sinclair Marshall himself had ridden Fire Haven to a classic win in similar conditions. The jockeys may have their point of view and one does not grudge their wisdom. But going by past experience, today’s decision must be considered against the norm followed consistently in the past.
The official announcement was indeed a strange one. First an announcement of a re-scheduled start was made. Since it did not rain, where was the need for repeated inspection? Was the decision of a rescheduled start taken without proper inspection and after due deliberation?
Be that as it may, the three races that were gone through saw two fancied runners winning. Spark of Silver relished the underfoot conditions as the Prasannakumar trainee left the field stranded to win as she pleased, the Red Divine Plate, a race for maiden three year olds. War Artist made a late rally but the front runner was too good for the field.
The well backed favourite Blue Origin ran into a spot of bother inside the final furlong as she was in danger of running into a wall of horses but jockey Stephane angled out the race in nick of time to get a clear run. The daughter of Puerto Madero responded swiftly and got the measure of Leading Lady who had taken over the running in the shadow of the post. Zaffrani, who was racing after more than a year’s absence from the track, collapsed 150 metres from the winning post and died due to heart attack.
In a race which resembled a minefield, Prithviraj trained Divine Strike who found inspired support close to race time; literally ``walked’ his way to victory by a whisker. Star League burst into a useful lead at the top of the straight and shaped like a winner but the five-year old mare literally grinded to a halt and was passed by the eventual winner in the dying moments of the race.
The penetrometer reading was 5 cms and the official position was good going. We have had racing in the past at over 7 cms when the going has been officially declared as soft to heavy.
Chief Stipendiary Steward Raman went on an inspection by walking round the track and quite evidently he saw no reason for races to be cancelled judging by the announcement of re-scheduled start. However, the jockeys refused to budge and jockey P S Chouhan went round with a lead horse to ascertain the fitness of track for racing. With the authorities unsuccessfully persuading the jockeys to ride, it became apparent that the remainder of the races would get washed away. It would have helped everyone if the authorities had announced cancellation of racing when it poured heavily because in recent times, jockeys have been very fussy about underfoot conditions. In the past racing has been held in far worse conditions as rain has been an intergral part of Bangalore Summer Racing. Despite 17 inches of rain over the week, the Kingfisher Derby was gone through and Ministrella literally swam her way to victory!
Things have changed dramatically in the last few years. Authority is no longer respected and every decision of theirs is either disputed or diluted because of threat of disruption of racing. With good monsoon predicted this year, quite a few race days are bound to be affected by the mindset of the jockeys more than the soft underfoot conditions. The character of the Bangalore track has remained the same in the last three decades and as such, today’s decision by the jockeys and the Stewards would not have held water! In fact, the President of Jockeys Association Sinclair Marshall himself had ridden Fire Haven to a classic win in similar conditions. The jockeys may have their point of view and one does not grudge their wisdom. But going by past experience, today’s decision must be considered against the norm followed consistently in the past.
The official announcement was indeed a strange one. First an announcement of a re-scheduled start was made. Since it did not rain, where was the need for repeated inspection? Was the decision of a rescheduled start taken without proper inspection and after due deliberation?
Be that as it may, the three races that were gone through saw two fancied runners winning. Spark of Silver relished the underfoot conditions as the Prasannakumar trainee left the field stranded to win as she pleased, the Red Divine Plate, a race for maiden three year olds. War Artist made a late rally but the front runner was too good for the field.
The well backed favourite Blue Origin ran into a spot of bother inside the final furlong as she was in danger of running into a wall of horses but jockey Stephane angled out the race in nick of time to get a clear run. The daughter of Puerto Madero responded swiftly and got the measure of Leading Lady who had taken over the running in the shadow of the post. Zaffrani, who was racing after more than a year’s absence from the track, collapsed 150 metres from the winning post and died due to heart attack.
In a race which resembled a minefield, Prithviraj trained Divine Strike who found inspired support close to race time; literally ``walked’ his way to victory by a whisker. Star League burst into a useful lead at the top of the straight and shaped like a winner but the five-year old mare literally grinded to a halt and was passed by the eventual winner in the dying moments of the race.
The penetrometer reading was 5 cms and the official position was good going. We have had racing in the past at over 7 cms when the going has been officially declared as soft to heavy.
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