The long winding Bangalore Winter Season is set to start on Saturday, November 2. The season has been cut short by two days but there is a possibility of the 30-day season being extended by two days if there is no shortfall of entries right through the season. The stake money for classics and graded races has been enhanced to make them more attractive.

Chairman of the Bangalore Turf Club Harimohan Naidu told newsmen on Wednesday that in order to accommodate good horses migrating to this centre with A license trainers, the club has made certain changes with regard to their eligibility. Bangalore based trainers can get an additional five horses to be based permanently at this centre. There is no rating restriction for three year olds but older horses should be rated 50 and above. There will be no subsidy in the first year but from second year onwards, they will be considered as local horses. These horses cannot leave the centre midway and should run at least four times a year failing there will be a levy of Rs 1 lakh. This step should help trainers augment their stock. A total cap of 50 horses has been put for migrating horses, with the release of stables on the basis of first cum first served basis. The maximum horses with a trainer during the winter season has been raised from 45 to 50 while for the summer season, the number will be brought down to 40 in order to accommodate outstation horses. The club has proposed to remove horses from the stables if they don`t perform for more than eight outings. The criteria for such elimination have also been announced.

The turf club has formed a sub-committee to recommend norms for licensing of new trainers. There are several aspirants waiting for a number of years as the club has been unable to license any of them due to shortage of stables. Also with there being no provision for retiring trainers either by age or due to non performance, there is stagnation, with younger people unable to break in. There is lot of pressure on the club to issue new licenses and it may happen sometime during the season if the sub-committee comes up with acceptable recommendations.

This season the maximum number of horses in a race other than graded races has been brought down from 15 to 12 to prevent crowding of the field especially when wide false rails are in place. There are two races framed for horses which have run and not placed during the season and these races will be confined to jockeys who have not ridden any winner. The jockeys cannot carry a whip in such races. Seven and eight year olds have been allowed to be kept in Bangalore as the number of racing horses would have come down significantly if such a step had not been taken.

The season is expected to be keenly contested one. Southern Emperor who won the Mysore Derby is perhaps the highest three year old in the country at 105. By virtue of his record breaking performance in a mile on firm going and his runaway win in adverse underfoot conditions over 2000 metres, he has earned the tag of being a very versatile three year old.

Copious rains have helped the authorities in preparing a top class track. The rains have eased in the last two days and the first day`s racing should not be under any threat unless of course there is a dramatic change in the weather pattern.

This is a crucial season for the Bangalore Turf Club which is facing problems on several fronts. The Supreme Court is due to hear the matter with regard to eviction orders of the Karnataka High Court. There is also the serious problem of the TDS on stake money. The judgment on this matter is due shortly and the decision is sure to have an all-India impact. There is also tax claim on the tote on the basis of accumulated earnings. For racing to survive and flourish, the club has to hope for favourable verdicts on all these matters.