B R Sharan Kumar

  When a disruptor becomes a Steward    By Sharan Kumar   It is ironic that a person who was responsible for every racing season being affected by strikes for a decade when he was the office-bearer of the Karnataka Race Horse Owners Association and spewed venom on the Bangalore Turf Club and questioned the integrity of the authorities on a TV channel and even called for an enquiry by the government agencies into the balance sheet of the club, charms his way to becoming a member of the club and even gets elected as Steward of the same Club. One cannot but be critical of the BTC members for not exercising due diligence.   In the history of racing, only one Derby has been called off because of the strike by the stakeholders (racehorse owners and trainers). Who was behind this? You guessed it right. Mr Aravind Raghavan. The question that is doing the rounds is whether such a disruptor can ever be an asset to an institution. Doubtful because such people will be agenda driven. If

  .Once You Go Black wins Derby in a scintillating finish Jockey Suraj Narredu literally lifted the James McKeown trained Once You Go Black past the wining post to ensure a short head win over Still I Rise in the Gr 1 Betway Mysore Derby 2022, the star event of the Mysore Winter Season. The Derby which was not held for two continuous years because of the Pandemic, produced one of the most sensational finishes seen in the history of this race By Sharan Kumar Jockey Suraj Narredu literally lifted the James McKeown trained Once You Go Black past the wining post to ensure a short head win over Still I Rise in the Gr 1 Betway Mysore Derby 2022, the star event of the Mysore Winter Season. The Derby which was not held for two continuous years because of the Pandemic, produced one of the most sensational finishes seen in the history of this race with Once You Black who looked seemingly beat by Still I Rise snatch the verdict by a whisker in the closing stride of the race, thanks to Suraj

  By Sharan Kumar   The Bangalore Turf Club’s attempts to muzzle the Press have fallen flat on its face, with the court giving a strong order dismissing BTC’s application for a permanent injunction against Racingpulse and its Editor from writing articles highlighting its inadequacies and questionable actions of the powers-that-be. The BTC had obtained an exparte order of stay against Racingpulse from writing what they perceived as ``defamatory’’ articles against the club. The judge has dismissed their application in a detailed order which is like a slap on BTC and a reality check on the powers vested with the Managing Committee.   BTC was always highhanded in its actions and believed that it could take action even on the Press if they highlighted any lacunae in the administration of the sport. The BTC managing committee had a delusionary belief in its power and believed that its word was law and that nobody had any right to criticize it. The Committee tried to enforce their w

  RWITC members show the way to keep the sport alive   By Sharan Kumar   The fact that the Royal Western India Turf Club has been on the throes of a financial crisis is something everyone is aware of. A combination of circumstances plus the pandemic gave a body blow to the institution as its income dried up and the club faced a stark future. Thanks to the fact that many of the RWITC members are true lovers of racing, they rose to the occasion and came up with a generous contribution to the tune of Rs 5 crores to ensure that racing is conducted with the same vigour.   Leading the generous donors has been Zavaray Poonawalla who has offered Rs 3 crores to the stakes besides keeping his commitment to the other routine sponsorships that he does every season. K N Dhunjibhoy and his friends have chipped in with Rs 1.5 crores. There has been support from other members in numerous ways. Such generous help from members is unthinkable elsewhere with the possible exception of Madras Ra

  Will jockeys get a fair crack of the whip?   The BHA has introduced new rules about the way a jockey can use the whip and how many times he can whip a horse in a race. Though there were punishments for excess use of the whip, the new rule envisages disqualification of the horse even if it has won which is why the rule is being debated extensively. As idiosyncratic as any was three-time champion Richard Hughes, has always maintained that “the last man to go for his whip is the likeliest winner” and adamant that it is “obvious” that jockeys who break the Rules to win should be disqualified.   By Rolf Johnson   New Rules for riders. Will jockeys get a fair crack of the whip? Prohibitionists still champing at the bit. A jockey friend of mine – a good one, he won a Grand National – dismounting after narrow defeat was berated by an irate owner. “Can’t you use your whip in a finish, man?” To which the rider replied: “I would have done, if I hadn’t dropped it halfway.” In a n