27th SEPTEMBER MUMBAI MIRROR, MUMBAI & PUNE.
DARK HORSE
Hoax message keeps RWITC authorities on their toes
Strange things have been happening at the racecourse these days. On Saturday, an unidentified source tipped the RWITC stipes (officials), whose job is to ensure fair racing, that two horses Mountain Ruler and Star of Venus will lose in their respective events. This information expectedly made the stipes anxious as these two horses hailing from trainer Cooji Katrak’s yard were favourites to win.
Pradyumna Singh, the chief stipe, swung into action. Since Mountain Ruler had already arrived in the paddock, there was very little he could do except warning both the trainer and jockey. Contrary to the news, Mountain Ruler won untroubled.
As a matter of precaution, Singh later directed a junior veterinarian to visit the stables of Katrak. During his visit, the vet found some froth having accumulated on the mouth of Star of Venus. He immediately informed his superiors and further investigations with the stable-incharge revealed that the horse was fed a dose of amino acid in paste form from a tube and which led to the formation of the froth.
The horse was escorted to the racing arena following which Star of Venus participated in the race. That he went down fighting is another story. The information received by the stipes did not exactly send them on a wild goose chase but proved to be unreliable nonetheless.
INCOMPLETE INFO
While the officials were swift to respond to the exigencies of the situation, it however appears that they were uncertain about the RWITC rules of racing regarding which clearly say that nothing except normal feed will be fed to a horse during the forty-eight hour period prior to the race.
Also, it emerged that the message and the timing of its receipt were not given in its entirety to the RWITC chairman, who appeared to be in the dark and presumed that the information was restricted to Star of Venus.
DISCRETION DESERTED
The message may have been a hoax but what clearly emerges from this episode is that horse-racing was and will always remain vulnerable.
Fortunately, no significant harm was caused to the punters’ interest nor was the image of racing sullied in the end. But the question arises whether the stipes could have done things differently? Like, should they have advised the Stewards to use their discretionary powers and withdraw Star of Venus from the race?
Prima facie there was no hankypanky in the accumulation of froth around the Star of Venus’s mouth but what if the horse had indeed been “got at”?
One fears even to imagine the consequences if these horses had lost in controversial circumstances. After all they belong to Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan and his associates, who not only own a large string but also are big-time sponsors at RWITC.
Incidentally, a favourite horse owned by Wadhawan was reportedly drugged before the Bangalore Derby last year. Fortunately, the horse was withdrawn by the BTC authorities.
Strangely, the RWITC Stewards, who use the discretion clause liberally when it comes to punishing or letting off professionals, are reluctant to exploit this powerful tool in such circumstances which is entirely in the interest of the race-goers and the sport as well.
DARK HORSE
Hoax message keeps RWITC authorities on their toes
Strange things have been happening at the racecourse these days. On Saturday, an unidentified source tipped the RWITC stipes (officials), whose job is to ensure fair racing, that two horses Mountain Ruler and Star of Venus will lose in their respective events. This information expectedly made the stipes anxious as these two horses hailing from trainer Cooji Katrak’s yard were favourites to win.
Pradyumna Singh, the chief stipe, swung into action. Since Mountain Ruler had already arrived in the paddock, there was very little he could do except warning both the trainer and jockey. Contrary to the news, Mountain Ruler won untroubled.
As a matter of precaution, Singh later directed a junior veterinarian to visit the stables of Katrak. During his visit, the vet found some froth having accumulated on the mouth of Star of Venus. He immediately informed his superiors and further investigations with the stable-incharge revealed that the horse was fed a dose of amino acid in paste form from a tube and which led to the formation of the froth.
The horse was escorted to the racing arena following which Star of Venus participated in the race. That he went down fighting is another story. The information received by the stipes did not exactly send them on a wild goose chase but proved to be unreliable nonetheless.
INCOMPLETE INFO
While the officials were swift to respond to the exigencies of the situation, it however appears that they were uncertain about the RWITC rules of racing regarding which clearly say that nothing except normal feed will be fed to a horse during the forty-eight hour period prior to the race.
Also, it emerged that the message and the timing of its receipt were not given in its entirety to the RWITC chairman, who appeared to be in the dark and presumed that the information was restricted to Star of Venus.
DISCRETION DESERTED
The message may have been a hoax but what clearly emerges from this episode is that horse-racing was and will always remain vulnerable.
Fortunately, no significant harm was caused to the punters’ interest nor was the image of racing sullied in the end. But the question arises whether the stipes could have done things differently? Like, should they have advised the Stewards to use their discretionary powers and withdraw Star of Venus from the race?
Prima facie there was no hankypanky in the accumulation of froth around the Star of Venus’s mouth but what if the horse had indeed been “got at”?
One fears even to imagine the consequences if these horses had lost in controversial circumstances. After all they belong to Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan and his associates, who not only own a large string but also are big-time sponsors at RWITC.
Incidentally, a favourite horse owned by Wadhawan was reportedly drugged before the Bangalore Derby last year. Fortunately, the horse was withdrawn by the BTC authorities.
Strangely, the RWITC Stewards, who use the discretion clause liberally when it comes to punishing or letting off professionals, are reluctant to exploit this powerful tool in such circumstances which is entirely in the interest of the race-goers and the sport as well.
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