The Bangalore Turf Club authorities hate taking any decision especially if they have to withstand pressure as well. When the turf club recently advertised for all the top posts, there was a feeling among racing fraternity that the entire lot had left their jobs all of a sudden. It was only later one got to realize that the mandarins of the club were trying to build a second line. The same authorities are dragging their feet about giving new licenses to aspiring trainers who have been waiting in the wings for nearly a decade and hoping for nature to take its course.

There are many deserving candidates to don the role of a trainer at BTC. One does not remember when BTC issued a fresh trainers` license last but it has been dragging feet on this issue for quite some time now. The aspirants have had a frustrating wait. When the turf club conducted tests for the purpose of issuing licenses to assistant trainers, it was believed that the wait would end at last but for months the club has failed to act.

The BTC takes a step forward only to take three steps back. The club showed that it cared for the good of racing when it increased incentives and stake money and brought down the entry fee of sweep stake money from 1.6 per cent to .4 per cent of the added money for these races. This was a big relief to race horse owners who have been battered by the 30 per cent TDS on stake money which is not subject to any refund and cannot be set off against expenses of maintaining a horse.

Since there is no retirement, a person can carry on even well beyond the age of immobility. The reason why BTC is hesitant to grant new licenses is its inability to retire trainers who have outlived their utility citing stable shortage as the stumbling block. On the contrary, the quota system introduced by the club has only helped many trainers to prolong their existence as those with an overflow park horses with these trainers. Recently trainer Irfan Ghatala was suspended for keeping his excess stock with Tarun Thimmiah and doing benami training which was against the rules of racing. While Irfan was a victim of circumstances, there are several establishments which have been getting away with similar practices. Many trainers have extension counters and everyone including the authorities are in the know of the arrangement though they have turned a blind eye to the happenings. The same system prevails elsewhere in the country.

The RWITC is perhaps more liberal in giving trainers licenses. They have accommodated all the retired jockeys who applied for a license. Pesi Shroff, Malesh Narredu, B Prakash and Rajendra were all champion jockeys and the club readily gave them license when they sought one after hanging up their boots. They have also given licenses to those who worked as assistants. But in Bangalore, no person, however lofty his achievement may be, can hope for such a gesture.

Even giants like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble had to retire not because they were not good at the time of retirement. These players were still capable of producing spark of brilliance and retain their place in the side. It is just that nature ordains that change is continuous. Elsewhere in the world, there are older trainers who continue with their trade but there is an essential difference. These trainers have their own establishment and do not depend on the club`s infrastructure to train their horses. In BTC trainers are totally dependent on the club to provide all the facilities like stabling, subsidy, incentives and track for working horses and as such the club has to introduce norms of retirement for professionals.

There is urgent need for BTC to infuse fresh blood before those who have been waiting for eternity quit in disgust. Then BTC may have to advertise for trainers with the desperation that it has shown in respect of senior positions in the club.