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| October 4, 2002 | Friday | Rajab 26, 1423 |
Clouds of uncertainty hang over LRC
LAHORE, Oct 3: The month-long agreement between turf accountants and Lahore Race Club (LRC) over financial matters expires on October 7 as clouds of uncertainty hung over the future shape of racing in Lahore.
Both the parties are scheduled to meet next week to review the progress achieved so far. The agreement was based on a seven- point formula and if the meeting viewed its results satisfactory, it would be extended for a period agreed upon between the two or altered with the new one.
Over a year has passed in a state of conflict between the two warring sections and their financial matters have not yet been settled fully.
The main cause of conflict is the contribution made by the turf accountants to the LRC from the former’s earning through Manually Operated Windows (MOTWS) in the LRC premises.
Both have been accusing each other for not understanding others point of view. The turf accountants say management was indifferent to their financial and other problems.
On the other hand the LRC accuses the turf accountants to have down-sized their windows number and forming syndicated MOTWS to avoid making contribution to LRC. Thus the number of turf accountants’ stalls have been reduced from about four dozen to only one dozen within two years.
The loss of revenue led to reduction in stake-money being offered to owners of winning or placed horses.
After the agreement which was to be in vogue for a month only on experimental basis, till Oct 7, the turf accountants not only raised their subscription but gave a token amount of Rs two thousand (Rs 2000) per window each towards stake-money of winning horses.
In return they secured the right to change three riders in each race at their instance. This particular clause of the agreement has evoked sharp criticism by the owners, trainers and race-fans alike.
One of the leading owners and punter, Mahmood Ahmad Khan opposing the clause said it has rendered LRC stewards totally ineffective as far as the running of races was concerned. It was a great pity that the stewards cannot change a rider of the favourite mount even if they were told that the said horse was going to be pulled.
A veteran trainer Haji Ghulam Sarwar said that the MOTWS only gave some amount to winner of a race while the horses placed second and third have not been treated at par. Already stake-money for second and third placed mounts was meagre which forced owners not to try their charges.
Whatever gains the LRC may have achieved after the agreement, it has certainly lost a sizable chunk of racing fans and resultant loss in revenue. The LRC is faced with a new problem of low turn out of fans at races.
A former Test cricket umpire and racing enthusiast Amanullah, speaking on behalf of fans, said the agreement has taken away the charm of racing. It has increased the influence of turf accountants on racing and made their grip very strong. The turf accountants’ main target are favourite mounts and they use all their tricks to manoeuvre defeats on them.
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