DEMOCRACY seems to have returned at the Karachi Race Club (KRC) with the holding of elections at the fag end of the year which has just gone by.

Unlike the preceding year, 2008 saw more activities particularly end of adhocism which has somewhat damaged the equine sport in the last five years.

Fakir Syed Aitzazuddin, a former polo player, who was appointed administrator on Nov 4, 2003 was shown the door on Feb 24, 2008. He was succeeded by an industrialist and district Nazim, Sanghar, Haji Khuda Bux Rajar who remained in office for 10 months until the time of elections.

The elections were an annual feature at the KRC until Sept 2003 when Yousuf Dada was voted as chairman. However, his entire team was dissolved the very next month after the elections on the directives of Sindh government, with Aitzaz appointed at the helm of affairs.

The KRC elections, held on Dec 15, 2008, heralded a new era for the race club and promises betterment in all areas, particularly bringing the club out of ‘red’. It may sound strange but it is a fact that the KRC is facing a deficit of Rs0.6 million monthly.

In the polls, Kamal Afsar, a former federal commerce secretary, was elected chairman with the president’s slot going to MNA Syed Sadruddin Shah Rashdi. Eight stewards who also returned ‘unopposed’ include Syed Ismail Shah, Tajamul H. Mirza, Irfan Mehdi, Jawaid H. Karim, Yousuf Ali Khan, Ali Faisal Farooq, Kamal Farooq and M. R. Hussain.

The panel, which has a mandate for a year, had the blessing of leading owner and patron-in-chief Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara who turned 80 on Nov 22. Insiders believe that Pir Pagara who has a passion for horse racing took a bold decision aimed at having public-owner representation in the managing committee.

Kamal Afsar, a nominee of business tycoon Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, has been a former national table tennis champion in his hey days but lacks knowledge on horse racing. Of late, Aqeel has started taking interest in horse racing and has been annually sponsoring the AKD Nursery Cup.

Sadruddin Shah, who is a prominent owner of horses and son of Pir Pagara, is a man with broad vision and punters have pinned high hopes in him. Addressing the members after the electoral meeting, he vowed to lift the KRC by building confidence among all stake holders. His son Ismail Shah is also a part of the committee.

Meanwhile, the KRC organised some 40 cups during the year which culminated with the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup meeting on Dec 25. Eight-year-old bay Naseeb lifted the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup with jockey M. Nasir astride. Instituted in 1948, the cup has a long history and is a prestigious contest by all counts.

Jockey Mohammad Essa recaptured the ‘Champion Rider of the Year’ award while the ‘Champion Trainer of the Year’ went to Sher Mohammad. The ‘Champion Owner of the Year’ award was retained by Pir Pagara.

Having won seven races in-a-row, six-year-old bay Bharosa from the stable of Amir Ahmed landed the ‘Champion Horse of the Year’ award.

The year also witnessed a slump in turf accountants who play a vital role in keeping the horse racing going. Strangely, the number once fell to 12 from almost 30. It rose to 17 in the Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup in 2008 as compared to 26 in the preceding year.

The managing committee, meanwhile, faces an uphill task to restore confidence among punters by holding ‘fair’ races, to increase the number of bookies and give the premises a facelift.

The KRC should also follow the Lahore Race Club in installing floodlights and holding races in the evening during summer.