Ever since Nirmal Prasad retired as Secretary of the club after a distinguished service of 30 years, things have become chaotic, with some committee members playing havoc with the system. All these days, the ex-Secretary was able to balance things, without allowing interference in the working of officials. However, with the new person who is a Chartered Accountant having taken over the reins, things have not gone on smoothly. For one, the Secretary has no knowledge of racing and making him Racing Secretary was the mistake that the committee perhaps willingly committed. Because of this some of them have been able to have a free run demoralizing long serving loyal officials who don’t’ toe the line by making them victims of arbitrary decisions.

Recently, T S Mahendra who was the Additional Chief Stipendiary Steward and who had run his department all by himself, has been transferred as assistant to the Chief Handicapper besides being continued as race day stipe. All his powers as a stipe having been taken away. Mahendra has been a loyal employee, working in the club since his induction as Stipendiary Steward more than 15 years ago. He has proved his ability though he can be faulted for some of his actions or beliefs. The present handicapper at Bangalore is the best in the country and the department is rock solid. As such there was no need to give a senior man as his assistant.

Mahendra began his stint as Assistant Handicapper before being inducted as a Stipendiary Steward. Putting him back in the Handicapping section as assistant is reducing him to the status of being a clerk. The BTC needs strong Stipes and Mahendra was the right person to be groomed to take over the job completely as there is no body available in the country with his experience. For the last few years, the club experimented by hiring foreign Stipes like Fin Powrie and Wayne Wood. The first named was a good administrator but failed as Stipe. Wayne Wood was a disaster. Instead of giving encouragement and support to the existing officials, the club has sought to demoralize the loyal officials which will only collapse the system. Stiping is the most crucial wing of racing and by meddling in this department, the committee is not sending the right signals.

During the Ramakrishna Hegde’s reign as Chief Minister of Karnataka, the government had imposed a licensing condition that the appointment or removal of a secretary was subject to government approval. This was done to prevent the whimsical decisions of the committee which might compromise the sport. However, with the government not showing the same interest, things have gone bad and the committee which has little experience in the affairs of racing has been faltering in every action. With most either now showing interest or lacking in required expertise, one or two have been able to have their way and the victims of their actions have been officials who are seen as uncompromising.

Chairman of the Turf Club Satish Chandra who addressed a Press Conference on the eve of the commencement of the prestigious Bangalore Summer Season which starts from Saturday that the decision about Mahendra could be re-considered when asked to explain the rationale behind the move. It was obvious that he was helpless in the face of one or two committee members who were keen on having their way just because they may have had a grouse against the said official. This is the first time that committee members have been allowed to have a say in what used to be the exclusive preserve of the Stewards.

Satish Chandra said that the club commission on win and place pools have been reduced by 0.5 per cent. The TDS on winnings have been raised from Rs 5000 to Rs 1000 from June 1 by the Government of India. The live-streaming of races will be available on the club’s website only against subscription. This year, the race goers have the option of obtaining live streaming on select days by paying Rs 200 per race day. About 87 outstation horses will be seen in action during the 26-day summer season which will start on Saturday, May 14 and end on Friday, August 5. The Kingfisher Derby will have guaranteed stakes of Rs 2.5 crores, with the added money being increased by Rs 10 lakhs from the existing Rs 1.4 crores.