wita: show of solidarity by trainers shocks RWITC

FOR A RINGSIDE VIEW OF HORSE RACING

AWAY FROM the real action on the race-track to which we are all addicted, two incidents atypical to the game happened during the last fortnight, which were of the kind which leave an indelible imprint on the mind of those in the know.

First came the suspension of trainer Suresh Chavan; then followed the near uprising of the horse-trainers in Western India against the club authorities for the harsh treatment meted out to their fellow professional.

Due to the token flow of information, for obvious reasons, both these events didn’t circulate in the racing fraternity to the extent which the drug abuse case did.

Reeling under the shock of the two-year suspension given to him, Chavan has filed an appeal before the RWITC Board of Appeal (BOA). But the soft-spoken professional was overwhelmed with emotions to see his colleagues rallying behind him during this crisis.

The trainers first met Pradyumna Singh, the chief stipendiary steward of the club, just to make him aware that Chavan did not deserve punishment. The trainers were also mulling a thought of going on strike on Saturday but they preferred to seek an audience with the Stewards before making any hostile move.

EMBARRASSMENT AVOIDED

In a rare show of solidarity on Saturday evening, every trainer irrespective of his status, assembled near the committee room. Realising that the situation could lead to a major embarrassment, the Stewards assured the professionals that they would have a relook at the case once the BOA has dealt with it.

This embarrassing incident also raises questions about the manner in which the stipes deal with the investigations entrusted to them. In Chavan’s case, the stipes failed to appreciate the evidence before them. If at all, Chavan should have been let off with a mere warning. Instead the stipes recommended strict action against Chavan and the Stewards appear to have blindly followed the advice given to them.

This plight of Chavan is reminiscent of what the French author of the Diary of a Country Priest wrote. Georges Bernanos says: ‘Justice in the hands of the powerful is merely a governing system like any other. Why call it justice? Let us rather call it injustice, but of a sly effective order, based entirely on cruel knowledge of the resistance of the weak, their capacity for pain….’ How true in the case of Suresh Chavan.

BRACKETING ANYBODY?

The issue of bracketing of two or more horses belonging to the same owner/connections keeps raising its head every now and then. It did once again this Sunday when Star Trainer, lesser fancied than his owner-mate Star Future, won the main race. Infuriated punters and club members renewed their demand that bracketing of horses is essential to protect the interest of all race-goers.

The RWITC administration however is not convinced about this issue and has kept it hanging over fire despite all the big owners declaring that they have no reservations about bracketing their horses. The managing committee, it seems, is more concerned about the convenience of the bookmakers when it should be worried about protecting the hapless race-goers.

Let’s hope that better sense prevails and the RWITC committee resolves this issue soon.