The administration of the RWITC Ltd. has slipped up in a big way in the manner in which important weight-for-age races in Western India are programmed. These are the races that could foster intense rivalries and hence draw the public again in an era of diminishing attendances.

This programming has a direct effect on the results of the affected races, as the margin of victory is often so narrow as to make it evident that a different result would have ensued had the weights allotted been different. The problem stems from a decision taken way back in October 1995 – over 20 years ago – which is as incomprehensible today as it was at the time. And that is the decision to "suspend" the Weight-For-Age Scale that has stood the test of time, and to substitute the well-worn weight differences between different age groups and different origins of racehorses with apparently arbitrary impositions.

One must remember that the WFA Scale was developed after much study by Admiral Rous, and that even today it is said that "His original scale has undergone only minor alterations since his work in the 1860s". That is not to say that he was infallible. An excellent discussion on the topic is available at:

http://www.ownerbreeder.co.uk/2011/08/do-the-figures-add-up/

In life, change is inevitable. Results of races over a sufficiently long period might warrant alterations to the WFA scale, which could be effected on the basis of rigorous research. But to make changes on whims and fancies is indefensible. If a fresh study had been conducted by the RWITC Ltd. justifying changes in the WFA Scale, surely (a) there ought to have been consultation with the breeding industry, (b) the Scale should have been altered rather than "suspended", and (c) the study – if any – that resulted in these changes ought to have been widely disseminated?

For example, between different age groups of Indian-breds, the committee currently has carte blanche to impose whatever differential it chooses – hence the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Eclipse Stakes of India on 14^th February 2016 required 5-year-olds and up to concede 1.5 kgs. to 4-year-olds over 2000 m. whereas the WFA Scale would have required a concession of 5 kgs. Meanwhile, the Dr. S.C. Jain Sprinters' Championship over 1200 m. on the same afternoon required the older brigade to concede 2.5 kgs. to the younger set, which is the same as the WFA Scale mandated. Note however that the time-honoured WFA Scale requires greater weight concession over longer distances, as is logical – but the RWITC has it in reverse!

The original WFA Scale, though suspended, continues to be published in the RWITC Ltd.'s Rules of Racing. Its latest iteration is available on Pages 122-133 of the most recent version of that document, as published on the club's website. Had the Scale not been so ignominiously discarded, Indian-bred 6-year-olds and over would have been required to concede 7 kgs. over 2000 m. and 3.5 kgs. over 1200 m. to 4-year-olds in the same month. The distinction between 5-year-olds and 6-year-olds has now disappeared. Whether there was any rationale for this, or debate with those affected, is not known.

Although it is perhaps academic at the moment, as there are no foreign-breds in training in Western India, it's worth mentioning that the differentials specified in the WFA Scale between foreign and Indian horses, ranging from 2 kgs. to 6.5 kgs., had been substituted that fateful October day in 1995 by a blanket 8 kgs. additional impost on foreign-breds. Was xenophobia at work then? And should it continue? Can racing survive without competition?

Two examples come to mind. No sport is more popular worldwide than football, and even in a star-studded galaxy of teams, few shine brighter than FC Barcelona, said to be worth $3.56 billion! Although located in Spain, only 9 of the 25-member squad are Spanish. The star players, around whom the team's fortunes pivot, are Lionel Andres Messi (Argentina), Neymar da Silva Santos (Brazil) and Luis Suarez Diaz (Uruguay). Can one imagine the disaster that would befall the club were the Spanish government to insist that only Spanish players be permitted to play for FC Barcelona?

Closer home, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a runaway financial success and is "the most-attended cricket league in the world", with a brand value of almost $5 billion. One of the league's leading teams is Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), which has an avid fan following in its home base of Bangalore. Does anyone seriously think the prospect of seeing only Virat Kohli, Stuart Binny and Yuzvendra Chahal would fill Chinnaswamy Stadium? Or is it the magic of also being able to view Chris Gayle (West Indies), A.B. de Villiers (South Africa) and Shane Watson (Australia) that acts as a magnet for the public? Would anyone attend an IPL consisting solely of Indian players?

The Indian Turf has been touting the quality of its produce – both Saddle Up and Mystical recorded ratings of 117 on Timeform's scale. Yet paradoxically it shirks from facing up to international competition – the Government prohibits the import of racehorses (on such mysterious grounds as the need to study exotic germplasm) and the RWITC Ltd. makes it impossible for a hypothetical visitor to win. No wonder the brand value of Indian horse racing is negative!

Had a 100-rated foreign-bred been raced in the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Eclipse Stakes of India or similar event against a Saddle Up or a Mystical, it would have had the impossible task of conceding such stars 8 kgs. – or 17 rating points! Merely by virtue of having been foaled abroad… Would this have been fair?

It's high time, then, for the RWITC Ltd. to restore the WFA Scale, remove the disincentive against foreign horses and to lobby for international participation. Remember, the arrival on Indian shores of the likes of Baqlava, Dark Legend, Fastnet, Orange William, Rock Of Gibraltar and Sans Ame did not decimate the Indian breeding industry. It greatly enriched the Indian Turf, as can be testified by the huge attendances at the time. Such a move now would help to tilt the tide away from the red ink that now corrodes the very edifice of racing (the club has reported a loss of Rs.25 crores). Food for thought?