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Stewards of RWITC vindicate Pesi Shroff

  November 25 , 2014
   

The Stewards of Royal Western India Turf Club vindicated trainer Pesi Shroff`s stand that they cannot suspend any professional without applying thought on vicarious responsibility. His ward Bullseye had tested positive for Boldenone on arrival from Nanoli Stud Farm even before the filly had migrated to the stables last year. The trainer had been suspended for nine months before the long, controversial, bitter and protracted fight had ended with the Stewards rescinding the punishment and imposing the trainer with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The trainer`s appeal against the fine is pending adjudication.

The same Stewards let off trainer Subhag Singh with a fine of Rs 25,000 after his horse Mahakaushal which had come from Kolkata had tested positive for Boldenone. The Stewards had pompously then said that they were being lenient in giving Pesi only nine months suspension and not two years as mandated by the Turf Authorities of India.

Interestingly, the Stipes unanimously felt that Subhag Singh should be let off as he had no role to play as the horse was not under his charge and had arrived from Kolkata. But the same Stipes had recommended severe suspension on Pesi Shroff when the circumstances were no different. And that too after Pesi gave substantial evidence of a possible sabotage of his horse from the time the authorities at Nanoli Stud Farm sampled the horse on their own and the filly`s arrival at the Mahalaxmi race course. The filly was sampled on arrival even before the trainer had touched the horse. It is difficult to understand how the same Stewards and Stipes could think differently and come to the conclusion that Subhag Singh`s case should be viewed differently when Mahakaushal coming positive met the qualification of vicarious responsibility on the part of the trainer. The two contrasting decisions served to highlight the contradictions that govern the mindset of the powers that be.

The Stewards had also ignored the fact that the Animal Welfare Law which stipulates two year suspension for using steroids only in the event of the complicity of the trainer in the use of the prohibited substance is established. There is no such thing as a two year suspension for vicarious responsibility. If one were to extend the vicarious responsibility logic of the Stewards to absurd levels, then the incident involving Congressional calls for action on the Stewards for vicarious responsibility!

If Pesi felt that he was being victimized because of faction fighting, he had every right to believe so. The two different decisions handed out by the Stewards for a similar incident confirms the belief that faction fighting has a big say in the way Stewards look to punish professionals for any racing infraction, be it the medication breach or in and out running of horses. The Stewards have used kid gloves in treating repeat offenders. The race day reports contain bland statements like the Stewards have noted the explanation or cautioned the professional as to the future running of his wards and they would watch the pattern of running, etc. The same pattern continues and the same refrain is heard over and over again. The refrain keeps coming back like in Hindi film songs when the first line gets repeated any number of times with some inane content thrown in between.

The Stewards haven`t shown any firmness in the way they have dealt with issues. They have succumbed to crowd pressure even if it is only by a handful. There is lack of will on the part of the authorities to focus on the serious business of racing. The authorities seem to be happier with activities other than racing. The word momentous is often used not for the quality of racing but for entertainment activities which have occupied centre stage. One does not want to be unduly harsh but there is an inevitable feeling that racing is slipping inexorably and something needs to be done to stem the tide.

The Stewards` announcement that Sandesh had been suspended pending enquiry to appease the public when they knew that the jockey`s riding did not call for such instant action. Sandesh rode at Hyderabad and may sit out for a day on Thursday to give time for the Stewards to hoist the white cone! The action by the Stewards surely will have a demoralizing effect on the professionals for they will be under pressure each time they come out to ride. The club has already become infamous for its actions on foreign jockeys which were taken without applying the principals of natural justice and fair play so much so that these jockeys dread to come to ride in India for fear that they could be victims of the whims and fancies of the powers that be or mob frenzy. The club needs to strengthen its security so that a handful of elements don`t take law into their own hands.

The jockeys did not ride during morning track work on Monday to protest against the lack of facilities for less privileged jockeys to stay inside the racecourse premises. In the past, quite a few jockeys used to stay in the stable area. Till last year, even jockey Sandesh used to stay in the stable premises. President of Jockeys Association of India Pradeep Chouhan too stayed in the stable area in his formative years. With quite a few of the jockeys being migrants from Rajasthan, they simply cannot afford paying guest accommodation in a city like Mumbai till they establish themselves. There are quite a few spaces in the race course premises which could be effectively used to provide dormitory type of facilities. All that is required is the will to do something instead of merely pleading helplessness.

 
 
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Total Comments : 2
Posted by Shashi on ( November 26 , 2014 )
They are playing with the hard earned money of the Public.
Those who are guilty to be punised severly to avoid others to follow.
Club should be mercyless including Owners,Trainer,Jockey,Club memebers who are involved in this type of incidents.

 
Posted by JSK on ( November 28 , 2014 )
Good decision by the club.
 
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