Whispers of manipulation have long dogged the Hyderabad race track. Those whispers have now grown too loud to ignore. The Telangana Race Horse Owners Association has alleged that certain groups are scripting results in advance, while top jockeys alter riding styles in ways that raise troubling questions about the integrity of the sport.

The Jockeys Association of India has dismissed these charges as “baseless,” insisting that senior jockeys are guiding juniors, that races are closely monitored by stewards and stipendiary stewards, and that Hyderabad racing remains transparent and fair. These assurances, however, do little to convince punters who have repeatedly witnessed favourites run far below par only to stage improbable improvements days later.

The real weakness lies in the enforcement. Token fines are meaningless in an industry where large sums of money change hands. Effective deterrence requires genuine accountability—suspensions where necessary and a no-nonsense approach from the authorities. Without this, claims of integrity amount to little more than words on paper.

Recent races have thrown up glaring examples. Espionage, after failing as a heavily-backed favourite, produced a sudden and improbable turnaround, while Knight Crusader’s handling left more questions than answers. Subtle manoeuvres in positioning, manufactured traffic problems, and unlikely late rallies only fuel scepticism and steadily corrode public confidence. And these are just from the last day’s racing. A critical review of the entire season would likely reveal many more such troubling instances.

It is true that not every contest is manipulated, but persistent inconsistencies cannot be glossed over. Racing thrives on trust, and its survival depends on punters—particularly the smaller ones—who must believe that form, not hidden hands, determines results.

Hyderabad racing is in urgent need of corrective measures. The sport can either enforce discipline, strengthen scrutiny, and restore confidence in its integrity, or it can continue to drift into theatre, where results look scripted and credibility steadily crumbles. The choice is stark: act decisively now, or risk losing the trust of punters forever. Hyderabad racing once enjoyed the confidence of its racegoers, and that faith must not be squandered. There must be method in the madness—and, for punters, the sheer madness of spotting winners should remain a joy, not a frustration.