Horses for courses: Bangalore Turf Club's no to government

Bengaluru: The state government's demand for 50 memberships at the Bangalore Turf Club was turned down by an overwhelming majority at an Extraordinary General Body Meeting on Wednesday. Members, who voted with a show of hands, said only three of  the 293 members were in favour of bringing in government members, despite the fact that the club's racing license hangs in the balance. 

“The Supreme Court has, in an earlier, judgment, said that status quo should be maintained with BTC, which the government has violated," said a member. The BTC and affiliated associations will approach the High Court on Thursday with a writ petition, requesting that the license be issued until the disposal of the petition.

Likening the matter to opening Pandora's Box, he added, "We will be setting a bad precedent by giving in to demands like these. BTC is a racing club, not a social one and it makes no sense to bring in people who don't know how many legs a horse has!"

Members did, however, emphasise that they are not against broad basing the membership, as long as the decision is not made under duress. "350 members is too small for a city like Bengaluru, by all means, lets expand that number. However, the people we bring in should be involved with the sport in some way," said a member. This isn't the first time the government has attempted to muscle its way into the city's club, with Bangalore Club at the receiving end back in 2015, when the high court ruled in the club's favour.

BTC, the Karnataka Trainers Association, employees of the Club and the Bangalore Animal and Stable Employees Welfare Society are approaching the High Court on Thursday. "We cannot be denied a license when we have satisfied the conditions laid out before us," said a member, who is closely involved with the petition. "The government is using strongarm tactics to get memberships in a manner that is totally undemocratic," he added.

The writ-of-mandamus petition requests the court consider granting the license and to ensure that the government grants the club licenses, facilities, services and concessions, as has been the case so far. "We also don't want the government taking any coercive steps that will defeat our objective,  which remains conducting horse races," said a well-placed source. "This includes attempts to repossess the land." The Karnataka Trainers Association, which is also filing a writ, makes its appeal on the grounds that livelihoods and the welfare of the horses is at stake. "We don't mind if the court appoints a committee to look into BTC, as long racing resumes as soon as possible," said a KTA office-bearer.

The CM has maintained that the CID enquiry, which began in May 2017 over an alleged doping scandal, is the reason behind the delay in the license for the winter season. "That doesn't hold good," said Zeyn Mirza, a club member. "The license for the summer season was issued this year, although the enquiry had begun by then. They're contradicting themselves.” said Mirza. "The majority view at the meeting is that we shouldn't have to succumb to bullying. The Supreme Court has ordered the government not to interfere and their coercion tactics haven't worked with other clubs either. We will not give in to this."

The license should have been issued by November 3, the official start of the winter season. Members also argue that putting an end to the prestigious racing club, which paid Rs 167 crores in taxes according to the last balance sheet, will be a significant blow to the government exchequer.