Blunder blues

RWITC does a swift turnaround in jockey case,

says 'refunding money to punters' was a mistake

By Usman Rangeela

© Mumbai Mirror

Exactly two weeks after condemning French jockey Stephane Breux for a crime that was not evident to the astute race-goers, the Stewards of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), it appears, realised that they had erred in their decision.

The Stewards concluded their investigations and after a marathon meeting held on Saturday evening decided to suspend Stephane for six race days for unsatisfactory riding and also fined him an amount of rupees 10,000.

Narendra Lagad was fined an equal amount after being held guilty of unwarranted behaviour which incited an already charged atmosphere.

French jockey Stephane Breux has been suspended for six race days after a marathon meeting.

Hasty decision

The RWITC Stewards, on September 27, had resorted to the unusual step of declaring the refund of all bets in the race where Sparkling Spirit lost. In another significant decision, the club had allowed owners of the first four horses, as placed by their judge, to earn the stake money.

These actions had created the furore in the racing circles and it was widely believed that the Stewards showed undue haste in arriving at the decision.

Vivek Jain, chairman of the Stewards of the Club, had however maintained then that the decision was taken to protect the interest of the majority of punters who suffered due to an alleged and prima facie serious malpractice in the running and riding of Sparkling Spirit. Jain also informed that it was felt by the Stewards that this occasional and rare resort was to discourage wrong doers and instil confidence in the punting public. Jain was also quoted saying, “It was a blatant case.”

When asked by this correspondent that, in hindsight, did he believe that the decision to refund all bets was wrong, Jain admitted yesterday that the Stewards were influenced by the extremely agitated atmosphere that prevailed in the committee room.

Derby drama

Apart from the nail-biting finish witnessed for the richest race of the season, there was more drama as runner-up Cabriolet lodged an objection against the winner Versaki after losing the Nanoli Stud Pune Derby by a neck. The club had to co-opt a Steward and the objection was heard by a bare minimum quorum of three Stewards.

First favourite Versaki retained the Derby as the objection was overruled. A majority of the punters was obviously overjoyed but there were some who termed the Stewards’ decision as atrocious.

RWITC chases away illegal bookies

Photo of an off-course betting shop abroad. Look at the comfy ambience. Contrast this with our OCBC's and you can tell what our clubs need to do next after chasing away the illegal bookmakers.

In an unprecedented move, the security staff of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) conducted a joint operation with the Social Service Cell of Borivali Police, and rounded up nine illegal bookmakers and 14 of their clients on Saturday (July 4) during a raid conducted outside the club's betting center at Borivali. The accused were caught red-handed while accepting bets on horses running at Bangalore on Saturday.

All 23, arrested and charged under the Gambling Act, were produced in Bandra court on Sunday, before being remanded to police custody until Monday, July 6.

"We had a tip off that illegal bookmakers were operating in the Jaya theater compound in Borivali outside our OCBC (Off Course Betting Center) and taking away a chunk of our legitimate business," an RWITC security spokesperson told me, "we solicited help from the Social Service Cell of police and conducted joint raids."

The spokesman also added that complete secrecy was observed while conducting the raid, with only the secretary and deputy secretary of the club knowing about it.

I checked the veracity of that claim and found it to be true. Even Vivek Jain, chairman of stewards and head of the club's marketing committee, was surprised when I broke the news to him. "This is news to me," said a surprised Jain, "I am not aware of this. But if the illegal chaps have been chased away, that's a step in the right direction. I am happy our people have done a good job."

Exciting season ends

Jockey Daniel Grant (center), flanked by his girlfriend and Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, chairman, RWITC, while receiving the Champion Jockey trophy  [pic: rwitc.com]

The last time Cooji Katrak won the champion trainer's title he was in South Africa. Yesterday when he won it for the second time, he was on ‘top-of-the-world’." 

“Yes, it’s a special kind of joy, like a top-of-the-world feeling,” he said to MiD DAY, after receiving the trophy form club chairman Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, and added, "I am especially pleased because I won more than two crore rupees in stake money for my owners." 

Katrak, who scored a double on the concluding day, topped the trainers' tally with 35 wins, while erstwhile champion Pesi Shroff finished runner up with 31 winners. Jockey Daniel Grant, who had a hand in most of Katrak's victories this season, picked up the champion jockey title, and the race club, as a special gesture, had presented the trophy to him a day before as he had to fly to his home country to fulfil his riding engagements there. 

Apprentice rider Nikhil Parmar picked up two titles, that of the leading apprentice and also the one for the leading apprentice with allowance. He rode 9 winners which included a hat-trick on the April 5 card. The leading owner prize went to Dr Vijay Mallya, while the Poonawalla stud farms emerged as the leading stud farm. 

"It has been our best season ever," said Vivek Jain, chairman of stewards and head of marketing, RWITC, speaking to MiD DAY, "it was great racing all the way--record sponsorships, higher attendance and betting--and most important, much improved media coverage and visibility for the sport." 

He added, "I am happy we managed such a show despite a delayed start on account of the horses's health, and weather concerns about heat and humidity that couldn’t be wished away. There was a special flavor of energy to all Sundays that took the racing experience to a new level."