September 10, 2002	Tuesday	Rajab 2, 1423

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LAHORE, Sept 9: Racing circles in Lahore have been shocked at the spectre of malpractice and financial irregularities which have surfaced in the house of Jockey Club Of Pakistan (JCP), the controlling body of the sport in the country.

According to reports over three dozen cases of alleged irregularities including financial and bogus registration of horses have been detected by the higher authorities of the JCP. It is further alleged that some of the staff members of the JCP were involved. One of them is said to have resigned and a couple of others gone on leave.

Alarmed by these reports, the breeders and owners have urged the JCP authorities to deal with such unscrupulous persons with a heavy hand to curb such cases in future.

 Prominent race-horse owner and breeder and a former international hockey star Munir Dar and a Karachi owner now in Lahore Syed Taufiq Kamal Shah, in a joint representation addressed to the Chairmen of JCP, Lahore Race Club (LRC) and Karachi Race Club (KRC) and released to press have called for a thorough probe into the cases and award exemplary punishment to those involved to restore the confidence in the JCP.

It may be pointed out here that a year ago some cases of bogus registration of horses with fake pedigrees came to light at the LRC and the animals involved were barred from taking part in races.

 These animals were registered fraudulently by presenting fake pedigree documents. Earlier to these incidents, it had been noticed that imported horses and horses (imported in utero) had in some cases been registered as thoroughbred and halfbred.

The chairman of JCP had then called for a thorough probe and corrective measures. A JCP steward and a prominent breeder Begum Abida Hussain ha at that time launched a campaign for eradication of this menace.

As a result some measures were taken. But due to pressure of highly influential persons, who backed those unscrupulous people and owners no satisfactory progress could be made.

That led to non recognition of the Pakistan Stud Book in the comity of Asian racing nations. The main reason which had hindered all efforts to combat the menace of bogus pedigrees was the absence of blood  laboratory in the country.

Since the JCP, LRC and KRC have no funds available with them the setting up of the laboratory remained a dream.

JCP made hectic efforts in this direction and also asked the LRC to take a lead and set up the laboratory in Punjab.

It also acquired the services of a specialist to prepare a feasibility report about setting up of the laboratory with the technique based on ‘electrophoresis’. According to the specialist, who forwarded a complete report to the JCP the laboratory was to cost about three millions rupees at that time.

The ‘electrophoresis’ technique was first instituted in England and then became in Vogue in Thailand. This is considered as the most advanced blood-typing process throughout the racing world. Since JCP, LRC and KRC lacked financial resources for funding the laboratory, the scheme was put in cold storage.