BTC to chalk out future course

BTC to chalk out future course
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, in a meeting with the Stewards and committee members of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) and Mysore Race Club (MRC), made it clear that the government will not extend the December 31 deadline for BTC to vacate the premises, and that the Club needs to shift out to Mysore to continue their racing operations till a new course is built on the 105-acre land promised by the government at Chikkajala.
With the government firm on its stand, the BTC is left with three options. To agree to race at Mysore, go to court and seek a stay, or close shop and only conduct inter-venue betting of the other centres till they get to build the new race course.
To function out of Mysore is just not easy. MRC lacks the infrastructure to accommodate 1,000 horses. The track, say experts, cannot take nine-month racing and Mysore does not have the required training tracks to cater to the 1,000 horses to prepare and train for the races. The Club has no swimming pool nor rolling facilities.
It is learnt that the CM offered to allot 15 acres of land near Lalith Mahal Palace to MRC for the construction of 1,000 stables. That would mean the horses would be stabled outside the race course, resulting in security problems, and big owners do not fancy this exercise.
The climate and conditions at Bangalore attract the Khaitans, Dhunjibhoys, Mallya, M A M Ramaswamy and a host of other biggies to race the best stock and the Bangalore Derby is high on the list of most professionals. Mysore may fail in its endeavour to attract the cream and that will result in the big owners pulling out horses and choosing to race at other centres like Hyderabad and Pune, and that will hit Bangalore racing hard.
The other incentive offered by the government to MRC is that they will reduce taxes by 2% on the Rs 200-crore turnover and that effectively means MRC will get Rs 4 crore for a period of three years. To build training tracks, 1,000 stables, ticket counters and viewing stands will easily cost Rs 50 crore. The attendance at MRC is 2,000 compared to the 7,000-8,000 on a normal race day at BTC, and on a Derby day, attendance is 13,000.
BTC HOPES TO GET STAY
In the interest of owners, employees, 7,000 persons directly involved, racing professionals and horses themselves, Rs 150 crore of investment in terms of horseflesh stationed at the Bangalore campus, BTC is hopeful of seeking a stay and gaining at least two years to put their new house in order.
The third option — to close shop and only conduct inter-venue betting — will certainly help generate the revenue required to fund the new project but may kill interest in the game, with owners and professionals choosing to establish themselves at other centres.
All three options do not provide galloping room, and BTC forced in a corner will find it difficult to scale the many hurdles in its bid to retain its image in the racing industry.
AGM soon
At a BTC committee meeting late on Thursday, it was decided to conduct an annual general body meeting in a couple of days to decide on the future course of action.
“A two-year extension of the deadline is all we are seeking. But if the government is not willing to grant an extension of lease, we may have to move court,” said a member on condition of anonymity.