KARACHI: Some 30 to 40 small owners of racing horses may bid adieu to Karachi Race Club (KRC) owing to severe financial impact in the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic that has put an embargo on weekly races for about two months, Dawn has learnt.

According to sources, small owners who own just one or two animals are finding it difficult to meet the expenses of horse(s), monthly rent of stables, salary to horse groomers and cost of morning track work.

“It costs approximately Rs30,000 to 40,000 on the pocket of an owner to maintain a horse and doubled in case of two horses,” the sources added.

It may be mentioned that the last races were held on March 5 and since then eight racing weeks have lapsed due to lockdown imposed by the government to enforce social distancing.

The KRC has incurred a loss of approximately over Rs2 million with no likelihood of opening in sight at least in the remaining three weeks of Ramazan that will take the deficit to Rs3 million.

Despite severe financial impact due to the shortfall the KRC has been able to pay the staff salaries and cleared the utility bills.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2020