January 09, 2008	Wednesday	Zilhaj 29, 1428

LAHORE, Jan 8: Race-goers have voiced concern over the way races were held and public fancy horses flopped one after the other suspecting some foul-play behind during last Sunday’s races.

Talkin to Dawn on Tuesday they said they were greatly perturbed when the good chance horses, who were better many lengths in track work and were supported by connections were defeated by far inferior contestants during Sunday’s races.

In their opinion it is always so much easier dealing with enemies you can see. Down at the most frivolous level of horse racing we may have to cope with a cloaked enemy of favourite horses.

Alarm bells have been ringing shrilly since last Wednesday when a fancied horse, Victory King was examined by the Veterinary Officer at the starting gates to have been tested narcotized. He was withdrawn from the race by the Lahore Race Club (LRC) stewards and his entry in races stopped for one month.

Victory King case has confirmed that efforts are being made by equine sports mafia to fix the results of races for monetary gains.

What has brought up many with the jolt was the possibility of suspected doping to slower horses performance in races with an interest in seeing a favourite got a victim. A good rider is engaged to benefit from being able to lay a fancied-horse, who they know will not win.

The race-goers said the kingly sport is faced with a new and many headed danger. They urged the LRC chairman and stewards to take extra measures to guard against this menace and kill it in the bud. Horseracing should be made as transparent and fair that the best horse should win, irrespective what his/her odds are?—AG