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MOOD AND MINDSET OF MEMBERS WILL PROVE DECISIVE

By Ikram Khan | 18 Mar 2023 | MUMBAI


Election campaigns are in full swing at the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC), club membership aspirants knocking on all doors to gain the prestigious membership. On the final day of campaigning, most candidates were seen meeting and greeting members in all stands in their effort to get the winning vote in the polls on Monday.

 The  BTC membership elections generate maximum interest in the horse racing circles. This time 10 candidates including three sporting horse owners are in the fray for the five membership spots on offer.

It is learnt that the members this year have decided to support owners and that's a good sign considering that it is the owners, who have made big investments in the game and you need good owners to take the sport to the next level. 

 Aware of the fact that the 28 percent GST slab  has put the sport in the oxygen tent, the onus is on the members to support and encourage the owners who have made big investments in the game. Daulat Chhabria, Shankar Srinivas and Manoj Kumar are three owners who apart from investing in horses have time and again promoted the game, sponsoring racing events. And the members understand that the game needs good owners and the three owners in the race have a clean record. The three owners apart, Dr. D L Deepak tops the list of the fancied contestants. 

A couple of influential members disclosed that the new approach  of the members is heartening. "The game needs owners particularly the breeding industry hit hard by the GST slab.We need the owners for the sport to survive and get to the next level."

While the members have made their intentions clear that this time it will be vote for owners, election pundits revealed that though the owners are favoured, it is too close to call and the mood and mindset of members on Monday will prove decisive in what on cards promises to be an intense struggle to gain the coveted membership.