The horse racing buffs and the professionals were delighted after the Supreme Court decided to admit the Bangalore Turf Club's (BTC) Special Leave Petition (SLP) against eviction orders issued by High Court on Wednesday.  The SLP had been pending admission for the last five years. The admission has come as a big relief to BTC taking into account that the club can now afford to breathe easy following the pressure built up by the government to shift the club from its existing premises.

"Well now we understand that it will take a couple of years before the final verdict on the case and this gives us time to sit and plan our future course of action," said Harimohan Naidu, chairman of BTC.

The Karnataka Government had filed an affidavit that they will not provide any extension to the turf club and that the government would develop the 67-acre space as a mini forest providing the required lung space. The government also brought to light that the Karnataka High Court had earlier ruled that the land belonged to the government and the club's claim of ownership of the land has been disallowed.

Justice Gogoi informed the government counsel that the bench had perused the affidavits filed by the Karnataka government on February and March 15 and noted that the matter has to be heard hence granting leave in this case.

The Government advocate protested pointing out that this would lead to a delay and that the case needs to be heard soon but following BTC counsel pointing out that racing is being conducted for the last 185 years in Bengaluru and so there is no urgency, the apex Court let the order of leave stand to the satisfaction of the club.

This effectively means that the SLP filed by BTC will be now converted into full Appeal to be heard. And it will take a while before it is listed for arguments.

Mr Zeyn Mirza, heading Dr Vijay Mallya's racing operations and managing director of Kunigal Stud Farm disclosed that the decision of the bench to admit the SLP has provided big relief to all the small and big owners of the BTC.

"After investing big in the blood stock the owners really were running scared following the government's decision asking the club to shift out and making it clear that they were also not obligated to provide land to facilitate the shift. But now that the SLP is admitted the smile is back on the face of the owners who took the risk to invest even when the club was fighting the case," said Zeyn pointing out that a number of small owners who adopted a wait and watch approach will now start to make their investments in the game.

Well now that BTC has gained time and space and all the big owners including Dr M A M Ramaswamy and Dr Vijay Mallya in its fold, the club is looking forward to make the forthcoming summer a season to remember.