THE year 2016 will be remembered on two counts as far as horse racing at the Karachi Race Club (KRC) is concerned.

The first thing that caught the eye were the three-race cards drawn for the first time in the club’s history on July 31 and again on Sept 10. Secondly, hosting of Quaid-i-Azam Trophy instead of blue-ribbon event of the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup annoyed many punters.

The KRC spokesperson had termed the three-race cards drawn twice during the year to ‘lack of entries’ but at the same time expressed satisfaction at the fact that the races were indeed conducted instead of getting cancelled.

Another issue that raised many a eyebrow at the fag end of the year on Dec 25 was staging of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy in place of the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup that was instituted in 1948.

Surprisingly, only two entries were received by the given deadline in the top class that compelled the organisers to lower the scale order besides reducing the distance from 12 furlongs to one mile in order to hold the race by changing its name.

“It is the most glamourous event of the calendar and we have succeeded in holding it,” commented a top official of the KRC at the time.

Lahore’s four-year-old bay colt and favourite See The Light justified his credentials while winning the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy as he pleased by 12 lengths. He beat filly Gamez Over for the honours. Co-owned by Mian Mahir and Syed Aamir Raza, the victorious horse was ridden by rider Aamir Pervaiz and trained by Ghulam Shabbir II. The owners and rider also belonged to Lahore.

Seasoned riders Sohail Ahmed and M. Manzoor shared Champion Rider of the Year award winning 28 races apiece in 2016.

The Champion Trainer of the Year award went to rider-cum-trainer Ghulam Shabbir II while Fantastic Game and Doctor earned Horse of the year awards.

Besides, there were some other highs and lows of the year. As many as 17 thoroughbred and half bred and 27 unknown pedigree horses were brought in by owners raising the current strength to 127 — 46 pedigree, 60 unknown and 21 non-registered, statistics secured by Dawn reveals.

A total of 174 races including 39 cups were held during 39 week out of total 52. Five weeks were lost due to Ramazan, Moharram and Pakistan Derby and remaining eight for want of competition and scorching heat.

Unknown pedigree horses dominated the races winning 118 while thoroughbred/half bred horses returned victorious in 56 races.

At the outset, water filters were installed in the stables aimed at providing clean drinking water to racing horses. The KRC bears the charges of replacing cartridge on a monthly basis.

Another good move was noticed when the institution formally opened a swimming pool for racing horses at a cost of Rs 4.5 million last November.

Off the field, one more year passed as 13 regular employees are still awaiting raise in their monthly salaries since long. They were put on hold when the salaries of 34 labour class employees were brought at par with others in 2013 following government notification fixing minimum wages at Rs11,000.

They were assured that their salaries will be raised but to no avail yet. It is pertinent to mention that the last time salaries of 13 staffers were raised was in 2010.

The issue needs an urgent attention of the KRC chief Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, son of the late Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara.

Meanwhile, concerted efforts are required to improve the horse racing in the city and revive the culture of the yesteryears when people felt honoured to be associated with KRC.

Things can be improved by bringing new owners, thoroughbred / half bred horses, introducing night racing by installing floodlights, improving the cafeteria among other things.

If materialise, the KRC can attract huge crowds on the weekend including the families besides improving the financial condition of the institution.

Published in Dawn January 29th, 2017