The Bangalore Turf Club Committee members along with a prominent member of the club had an audience with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday evening to resolve the issue arising out of the non-receipt of license to conduct live racing and off-course betting. The Chief Minister reportedly assured that he would address the issue on Monday and has asked the representatives of the turf club to meet him on Monday. In the meanwhile, the Bangalore Turf Club cancelled the races scheduled for the weekend as the license was kept pending, awaiting the Chief Minister’s nod after the file had been cleared by both the legal and the finance departments.

The Bangalore Turf Club is at loggerheads with the government not just because of the ouster of former Chairman Harinder Shetty. The turf club had been indifferent to several of the demands of the governments including shifting of the race course from the existing location. It is learnt that the government had sought an increase of membership from the existing 350 to 500. The government also wanted half of this number to be nominated by them. However, the club turned down the proposal.

There was also resentment about the membership profile of the club. Every time there was an election to the membership caused by the death of existing members, the kith and kin of the members had the upper hand. The recent elections had also seen the defeat of a high-profile candidate Santosh who is the son of Law Minister Jayachandra. As such there was a dislike in the way things were run at the club where the government’s wishes or directions were not adhered to with impunity. During the present crisis, the club has got exposed about its lack of clout with the government. The club is still waiting for the high-profile members to come to its rescue.

The members of the turf club enjoy tremendous privileges at the expense of the paying public. Many times, their behaviour is resented by the serious and paying race goers who feel let down by the way they are treated. It is unfortunate that a few members are the cause of the club landing in the present mess. They damaged the club because their egos were not catered to. They are also active in social media running down the present management and spreading all sorts of rumours against the establishment. The activities of these disgruntled members have opened a Pandora’s Box and given the government a strong toe-hold which could result in the club itself being marginalized if there is a fresh demand to increase members which the club would be forced to oblige under pressure of existing circumstances.

There were just three days of racing in the month of May and the remaining days had to be cancelled due to rain. The club had the license to conduct racing in the month of May but the license for the month of June has been withheld heaping misery on scores of people including daily wage earners who were hit hard due to reduced racing in the month of April and May. The racehorse owners and the professionals are also left in the lurch.

Harinder Shetty’s removal was only a trigger for the pent-up anger of the government against the turf club which has repeatedly defied its dictate. The Finance Secretary and the Police Commissioner who were present at the meeting merely requested for the meeting to be postponed. They had also said that they would not come in the way of the majority. Similarly, last year the same government nominees had recommended that Nirmal Prasad who was retiring as Secretary to be re-appointed as Chief Executive Officer as per the earlier board resolution which was also turned down by the then committee. There have been series of instances when the club had shown scant respect to the government. The Chief Minister reportedly told the committee members that the attitude of the club did not go down well with the government.

There was also a demand for an increase in membership of the Mysore Race Club which had also been turned down by the club. The government wings had initiated proceedings to take back the club premises as the lease had expired. The club has obtained a stay of the proceedings in the High Court.

It is time for the club to mend its way so that their focus would be to cater to the interests of the racing public and all stakeholders.