Lahore, March 11: The Lahore Race Club (LRC) stewards Sunday took a historic decision to withdraw the riding licence of jockey Aamir Pervez for his unsatisfactory riding of Derby Favourite colt Toru Khan on March 4.

The action was prompted on a report from the LRC stipendiary steward who said the jockey, Aamir was seen not interested to win the race throughout the 2400m distance and when he made the final effort it was too late.

There was massive betting plunge on Toru Khan and according to rough estimates gathered by the Dawn from the turf accountants the race-goers had laid bets amounting to rupees 30 million on the favourite colt.

The meeting presided over by LRC chairman, Tariq Aziz and attended by the majority stewards saw the video-film of the Derby race screened on the close circuit TV for the racing fans also. For nearly half an hour the stewards examined the film from each angle and then announced their decision.

During the race Aamir at no stage let Toru Khan to run on merit and at 1400m post he was trailing last with Tipu Sultan. When it became clear to him that Toru Khan may not catch up the leader, Gold Krik and Big Show he made final attempt but it was too late and he could only nose out Big Show and was beaten by over four lengths from Gold Krik.

This is for the first time in Derby's 59-year-old history that a jockey had been detected pulling the favourite and a drastic action taken against him.

The senior most jockey of Pakistan and India, Syed Baboo commented on the action said such punishments would help cleans the racing of malpractices.—AG