It’s time to call peace on whatever happened at BTC on Saturday.  Whoever was at fault is not important and move over should be the line to adopt in the interest of the sport.

If you listen to the stories from the two sides, Jockeys and stewards, it is difficult to take sides. And that is simply because both parties appear right and wrong and in this scenario it is best to forget the one bad day at the office and look to start fresh and new. In any sport, protests and penalties are part and parcel of the game and you need to take it sportingly. You got to also understand that in sport there is no room for politics and the game needs, both the star performers and the astute administrators.

The jockeys on Saturday after the first race chose not to ride pointing out that the track was bad. The stewards to prove their point conducted the program with apprentice boys and the solitary pro Cedric Segeon. The punters too at the start were not happy with the protest of the jockeys and later they were not happy, not confident to make an investment on apprentice boys.

Well amongst all this a rumour doing the rounds in the stand that the members of JAI had chosen not to ride in solidarity with Srinath who was punished for indiscipline was wrong.  It was a malicious rumour with no truth in it confirmed the members of JAI adding that the club would do well to initiate action on the rumour mongers.

Srinath too clarified that he was not part of the protest and that the decision makers of the club made him a target only because they believed that the story doing the rounds was true.

“I was ready to ride and in fact told them that I was willing to ride. That was enough to understand that I was not part of the protest but they refused permission to ride,” said Srinath adding that the men calling the shots had suggested that we ride in the second race before they take a decision on the jockeys decision not to ride.

Srinath also disclosed that the jockeys had agreed to don silks suggesting that if the rails were taken away they were willing to give it another shot. “They agreed to do  that but to our surprise dumped the suggestion following heated exchanges and then after consulting the trainers the apprentice boys were roped in to go through the program,” said Srinath.

Srinath pointed out that he really had no role to play and neither did the boys do it for him. “I still have recourse to an appeal and why would I instigate such action before going for an appeal,” asked Srinath.

The senior members of JAI too revealed that it was not pre-meditated as is being made out.  “Most riders who competed in the first race were of the view that the track was bad and slippery and thinking it only will get worse chose to protest,” said a senior jockey.

The club on its side made it clear that they inspected the track in the morning and certified it fit for racing. “The apprentice boys had no problem and there was no slip or fall and that effectively proves that the track was fit for racing,” said an official spokesman of the club.

Well to the credit of the club, it must be mentioned that the club did well to go through the program.  The apprentice boys happily grabbed the opportunity while the big guns lost out.

But the game needs the big boys and the tough administrators. And it is time they iron out the differences and turn a new leaf. Whoever, is at fault, it is my opinion, must be given the benefit of doubt. A chance to redeem. A chance to correct. A chance to introspect and move on. The game is bigger than any individual.