B R Sharan Kumar

The massive setback that racing suffered by virtue of the High Court’s ruling which made it clear that Bangalore Turf Club had to vacate its premises by September 22, 2010 does not seem to have made much impact on the members of the club who are at this point of time busy with electing their kith and kin as members in the elections scheduled to be held on Monday. No body wants to say anything lest the chances of their protégés gets affecting in the elections. In fact, the Chairman of the Club has circulated a letter among members that the High Court decision had more positives for the club as the club had got breathing time and has time to approach the Supreme Court. What is forgotten is that the Court verdict has given finality to BTC’s claims of possession of land by way of grant. At best BTC can bargain for some time but the writing is clear. BTC has to make plans to have an alternate venue in place if racing has to survive in Bangalore Given the mindset of the members and the manag...

The decision of the division bench of High Court of Karnataka, directing BTC to vacate its premises by September 22, 2010 and dismissing its petition against the government for termination of lease has come as a big blow to racing not only in Bangalore but also in India. There is a crisis of leadership at BTC and the present people at the helm seem to be incapable of bailing the club out of the present impasse. The least they can do is to resign, owning moral responsibility for the debacle and pave the way for selection of people of caliber like P G Belliappa to lead the club in this hour of crisis. The internecine quarrels among the present managing committee have only hastened the present scenario. Somehow each of the members of the Managing Committee doesn’t seem to have any credential, commitment or vision barring indulging in petty intrigue. The men who were expected to take the lead in the present managing committee too have been found wanting and are singularly responsible for ...

The Division Bench of Karnataka High Court dismissed BTC’s petition against termination of lease and directed the turf club to vacate the premises by September 22. The High Court has not directed the government to provide alternate land for relocating the existing race course. The government was directed to preserve the BTC premises as an open space and create a mini forest. The court also said that the tank bed area at Chikkajala and Doddajala be preserved as one and said that the land cannot be used for purpose of relocating the race course. The High Court’s judgment thus closed all the escape routes for the beleaguered turf club which is now fighting against the wall for its very survival. The turf club is planning to file a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court against the High Court order. It may be recalled that the government of Karnataka had refused to renew the lease of land beyond December 31, 2009 and had directed the club to shift its activities to Mysore. The governm...

Like a true champion, Jacqueline took pride and pleasure in the thrill of victory and suffered the odd loss with dignity.. She always wanted to be better than the rest and sought challenges and relished the thrill of fulfilling them. Trainer Pesi Shroff pays a tribute to the champion filly as she embarks on a new career in the Nanoli Stud Farm after her glorious conquests on the race track. Every now and then, a trainer is fortunate to get a champion who alters the course of a professional’s life itself. One such wonder horse was Jacqueline, a bay filly by King Charlemagne out of Talita Kumi. Like a true champion, Jacqueline took pride and pleasure in the thrill of victory and suffered the odd loss with dignity.. She always wanted to be better than the rest and sought challenges and relished the thrill of fulfilling them. Endowed with a stout heart and ability that only a few thoroughbreds possessed, Jacqueline achieved what no other race horse in the world accomplished in the long hi...

Monday is BTC’s day of reckoning as the High Court of Karnataka has posted for orders on a batch of writ petitions which will impact racing in India in a big way. The matter has been listed as item number 2 in Court Hall 2 before the division bench of Justice VGopal Gowda and Justice B S Patil. The judgment is expected to be delivered sometime after 10.30 a.m. The Division Bench of High Court had grouped all the petitions pertaining to the race course and the following four cases are expected to be disposed of on Monday, March 22. 1. Petition Number: 31200/2009: Relating to allotment of tank bed area at Chikkajala for purpose of relocating the Bangalore Turf Club. A public interest petition had been field by M K Balakrishnan. 2. Petition Number: 30663/2009: Writ petition field by BTC seeking the declaration that the grant of land made to the race club in 1915 as absolute and quashing the termination of lease by the government. The club has also made an alternate prayer seeking land, ...

Michael Eshwer trained Einstein who had dropped down considerably in scales as a result of him going off the boil, found his galloping shoes as it were and swamped the opposition in the 1200 metres Stewards Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday’s races. The seven year old led all the way and then skipped away from the rest to record a facile win. The form was not clear cut and as such winner picking was more on expectation than on surface form. Cayenne was backed more than the rest, with support coming for Cart Wheel and top weighted Rare And Precious. Jockey Christopher perhaps was an ideal foil for Einstein as both of them had been winless for a long time. Einstein hit the front from the word go and there was a bit of jostling at the start with the winner shifting out and Stone of Destiny doing the reverse, resulting in Cart Wheel being squeezed out. Einstein who had been a performer at the top level in his hey days, kept going in front and won c...

Michael Eshwer trained Einstein who had dropped down considerably in scales as a result of him going off the boil, found his galloping shoes as it were and swamped the opposition in the 1200 metres Stewards Trophy, a race for horses rated 80 and above, the feature event of Saturday’s races. The seven year old led all the way and then skipped away from the rest to record a facile win. The form was not clear cut and as such winner picking was more on expectation than on surface form. Cayenne was backed more than the rest, with support coming for Cart Wheel and top weighted Rare And Precious. Jockey Christopher perhaps was an ideal foil for Einstein as both of them had been winless for a long time. Einstein hit the front from the word go and there was a bit of jostling at the start with the winner shifting out and Stone of Destiny doing the reverse, resulting in Cart Wheel being squeezed out. Einstein who had been a performer at the top level in his hey days, kept going in front and won c...