RCTC in poor light
By Aalibaba

Kolkata
September 1, 2004

Some called it the blackest day in Indian racing, while others did not hesitate to term it as cheating even as a riotous situation prevailed following the running of the Flower Dust Handicap, the third race in Wednesday’s race card. It all started when the favourite, Karan’s Choice responded to the cheering of a 4000-odd race crowd and held on determinedly from Joy Of Living at the winning-post. The owner, Ashok Singh was there on the track and so was the fillies’ trainer H.S.Bath to lead in their winner.

There was no doubt about the victory of Karan’s Choice and all display monitors across the course also confirmed the final placings in the race  Karan’s Choice first; Joy Of Living second. The trainer and owner too went for the lead in ritual and the punters waited for the ‘all clear’ signal to collect their share of winnings from the tote and the bookmakers. None, however, had the slightest idea that the naked eye, which had witnessed a half-length verdict in favour of Karan’s Choice could be an illusive one until judges announced the final standings citing Joy Of Living as the winner and not the other way round. The verdict  between the two was a nose.

Joy Of Living (I Chisty up) winning the Flower Dust Handicap from Karan's Choice (S Shanker up) 

Hell broke loose as each of Karan’s Choice backer exchanged views with others only to get his own version approved. The camera cannot lie was the popular belief and RCTC’s inability to produce the photo print of the final moments added fuel to the fire. However, RCTC stuck to its ground. 

"It was all because of the lightning that that disrupted and paralysed a part of cabling. Totalisator and the video facilities had suffered because of this," said Boman Parakh, RCTC secretary. He also added: A freeze-frame at the winning-post should have been promptly displayed. I am going to enquire about the matter as to why was it delayed." The ‘win’ picture frame was displayed for the public viewing after nearly an hour but it’s poor quality failed to pacify the agitated crowd.

Steinlen (Gajendra Singh up) leading at 250 meters from Actuary (S Shanker up)

Racing during the afternoon, was, otherwise quite enjoyable though second favourites ruled the roost from the word ‘go’. It was Pipsqueak who justified his morning track form in the 1,800-metre Mandolin Cup, the curtain raiser. The Bharath-trainee, however, faced a strong challenge from Moon Quest in the dying stages of the race after being in command inside the last furlong, having taken over the running from Bay Dragon and She’s A Star at the top of the turn. In fact, had the 3-1 favourite Moon Quest and her jockey apprentice Gajender Singh been up with the field in stead of badly trailing until frontrunners ran out of gas, the Errol Bhungard-trainee might have got the measure of the joint-favourite.

The topweighted Actuary, the 9-10 favourite to win the 1,800-metre Sprightly Handicap, and the lowly weighted Steinlen fought a regal battle for supremacy through the entire stretch with the lead changing with every stride. However, the weight told on the Bharath-ward in the final step and the short-head verdict decided it all. The favourite, may, however, make amends soon enough as it was his only meaningful and forward run after he was castrated.

Velocette returned a far more convincing winner than her last triumph when he had just about managed to beat Castle Moon. The Farley Rodrigues-trained four-year-old was held back in mid-division by apprentice Surjeet Singh till the final turn. Once given the ‘go’ signal, the Tecorno-Whistling Melody filly, a 2-1 second favourite, left the field standing as she raced for a five-length long verdict over a late finishing favourite Predecessor who graced the wrong-end of the field for most of the 1,400-metre Mountain Lily Handicap trip.

Velocette (Surjeet Singh up) winner of the Mountain Lily Handicap

Anokato (Md Amil up) winner of the Roubaix Cup being led by trainer Mr. David

Anokato dealt the deadliest blow and the less fancied Daniel David-trainee walked away with the feature event, the 1,200-metre Roubaix Cup. The six-year-old raced in the mid-division ahead of the two fancied Bharath-wards Arrayal and Tasmac who, surprisingly, took a slow start but was pushed to gallop in close proximity of the ultimate winner till the final turn. Once Tasmac bid good bye to his chances and Arrayal failed to capitalize the rail-side opening coming his way, the stage was set on the wide out for Md Amil to seize the advantage and race towards the winning post, and untroubled, too. Immaculate came with his customary late run to push Arrayal and Magic Mantra to the lower order.

Bharath’s Rebelwithacause decided to put his best foot forward in the concluding event, the 1,100-metre Vanitas Handicap. The 5-1 less fancied runner took over the running from the start in a come-and-catch-me-if-you-can manner and held on to the advantage even as the joint favourites Royal Command and The Flying Star made their desperate bid to catch up with the winner. However, Royal Command did come within a length of Rebelwithacause but The Flying Star’s cause suffered when Software came with a late run. The Flying Star will definitely improve after this run.

Rebelwithacause (Md Islam up) winning the Vanitas Handicap from Royal Command (Gajender Singh up)