LAHORE, Oct 28: While denouncing the practice of changing riders in races on the demands of bookmakers, Lahore Race Club (LRC) stewards have put a stop to the practice from Wednesday onwards.

A notification issued by the LRC on Tuesday directed all owners and trainers to try all their horses entered in the races.

In case, it was found out that a particular horse was not on the job, the stewards will order his jockey to ride his mount on merit, which will not be brought into the owner’s notice.

Apart from this, the stewards said that draws from now onwards will be held in the LRC secretary’s room in the presence of the stipendiary steward and starter.

When contacted by Dawn, the owners/trainers said that they appreciated the steps taken with the hope that they would help make the races more competitive, fair and transparent.

Race fans too were delighted about the new steps, which they said would end the monopoly of bookmakers over the sport.

Bookmakers in the past had been pointing out the horses and getting their riders changed for their own selfish ends. The stewards thus had been reduced to mere puppets in the hands of the bookmaker mafia. There have been several instances of the replaced rider pulling a horse.

Meanwhile, the race goers were left wondering how the trainers and riders, who had been working under permission from the race club, could defy stewards’ orders. Those who dare disobey them now can expect being awarded exemplary punishment.—AG