Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has made it clear to the Bangalore Turf Club that the termination of the lease of land on December 31, 2009 is final and no extension will be considered.

The Chief Minister, who seems to be in an unrelenting mood, has said that racing activities could cease till such time the new race course is built. ``The government is willing to give 95 acres of land at Chikkajala/Doddajala and also consider giving other help but the decision of the government to close racing activities at the existing venue was not negotiable. If need be, the Bangalore Turf Club could conduct its racing activities at Mysore and if it logistically not possible, the club can close it activities,`` the CM has said.

Chairman of Bangalore Turf Club P V Shetty who was putting a brave face about getting the government to agree for extension of lease by at least two years, appears to have hit a dead end judging by the letter he has addressed to all the members of the turf club about the emerging scenario. The Chief Minister has brushed aside the argument of the chairman that he had no authority to negotiate and he has to go back to the general body of the club. The Chief Minister has said that this was an internal matter of the club and that he is not concerned about it.

It may be recalled that the club was under threat of shift for the last two decades. The turf club had been offered land very near Bangalore at Jakkur but the club resisted the move resulting in the identified land being handed over to another agency. The only piece of land that appears suitable at this point of time for building a new race course is at Chikkajala which is about 25 kms from Bangalore, on the main highway leading to the newly built Bangalore International Airport. The problem that is confronting the Bangalore Turf Club is about raising finances and the operation of racing in the intervening period. According to estimates obtained by the club, it would cost anywhere in the region of Rs. 350 cores to build a modern race course.

In the face of the determined approach of the Chief Minister, the options before the club seem to be limited. However, the club cannot afford not to conduct racing activity for a period of three years which is the minimum time required to build a new facility. In the light of the fact the club does not have huge reserves of money; it is a Catch 22 situation for the club. While successive managing committees have to take the blame for taking the government directive of shifting lightly, the fact remains that the decision of the government does not affect the club alone but the racing fraternity itself. The onus is now for a concerted action on the part of all the wings that comprise the sport.

The situation appears bleak but not entirely unsolvable if only there is a will to win.