B R Sharan Kumar

  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