@joethepro

pls dont come racing on sunday. ure family needs u. also ask the family if theyre ok with you coming and gambling on the race course everyday. if theyre not, then pls stop. family comes first.

btw, happy easter in advance

@Joethepro,

Hats off.You have come with your guns blazing.Spoken like a real pro.Would like your views on other aspects of racing too in this forum such as the poor video coverage of the horses moving in the paddock-keeping the focus on just a few non jobbers and the real contenders just a aerial shot or a total miss. How are the paddock watchers from off-course supposed to make their final decision in the absence of such coverage?

Racing correspondents like you all should take up these issues with all centres. Possibly some improvement can accrue and can be hoped for.Our pleas at various occasions seems to have no effect.Your voice probably may!

Regards.

just reminding you that both objections were chaired by Mr Vahanvaty.He according to me is the chiefjustice/joker of the pack. You may have knowledge of civil/criminal matters but reading a horse race is totally different.Some elementary knowledge of horse riding is mandatory. Now why do you not check bank accunts of top five jockeys/trainers of each racing centre.The results will astonish normal punters.It is very easy to catch some riding boys with a few thousand rupees and snatch their livelihood.

Much against the run of events at the Mahalaxmi racecourse last Sunday, the stewards’ body of the Royal Western India Turf Club — at the conclusion of its hearing of an objection — eliminated almost every possibility of the current Mumbai racing season meeting a boring end.

What led to this eventuality was the protest lodged by jockey Trevor Patel astride Star Scholar against apprentice SA Amit who steered Master Sergeant to victory in the MD Petit Plate. In an effort to extend the lead which he wrest a furlong away from home, Amit failed to keep Master Sergeant on an even keel and interfered with Star Scholar after veering out under pressure at the 100-metre marker.

After examining the evidence, the four stipendiary stewards’ unanimously averred that although Amit’s riding was careless, Master Sergeant should keep the race. Six honorary stewards subsequently deliberated the infringement but remained divided on whether to uphold the objection or not. It was the casting vote of Gulamhusein Vahanvaty, the steward body’s chairman, which stripped Master Sergeant of his victory.

Subjective illusion

What took the racing fraternity, especially the punters, by surprise was seven individuals involved in regulating the sport at RWITC, including four professional stewards, believed that the apprentice rider’s offence did not merit the upheld verdict.

Three honorary stewards however felt otherwise and their opinion eventually prevailed. While the argument both in favour and against the verdict can be endless, the point which the honorary stewards seemed to have missed is that they have repeatedly ignored the professional stewards’ opinion recently. Sadly, in the process, the stipes position is being rendered meaningless by the stewards’ body.

However, justifying the stewards’ decision Vahanvaty said, “All decisions are subjective and each individual steward decides on the basis of how he reads the race. While we respect the expertise and judgment of the stipes, please note that as per the Articles of Association of the Club, the stipendiary stewards do not have a vote.”

Well, the AOA give the honorary stewards the right to adjudicate on objections etc. but does it mean that they can read or judge a race better than professional stipes? Certainly not in my opinion but if that’s the case then why does the club employ the stipes?

Strange disparity

When asked for his opinion, Vivek Jain said, “The interference was technical and would not have made any material difference to the outcome of the race hence deserved to be overruled.” On the disparity between the stipes and honorary stewards’ opinion, Jain explained, “…..the final decision is that of the stewards and the view of the stipes has to be taken as a recommendation only.” Jain however said that, as a future reform, the stipes might get a vote in objections. The reforms can keep coming but, at the risk of sounding repetitive, the RWITC administration is supposed to have hired “qualified” stipes and wants the public to trust their ability to protect the integrity of horseracing. Yet, they themselves show scant respect for the stipes judgment!

While the jury is still out on whether the current lot of stipes has been successful in maintaining the integrity of the sport, the powers-that-be are wrong in believing that punters are gullible and will accept rank bad decisions meekly.
MUMBAIMIRROR

Kind attention Stewards RWITC, we public have still not forgotton your dececion of UPHELD objection of B Fifty Two and Khammyam, plz be fair to us or close down your shutters for good.

Hi Guys,
I would like to remind you all on the result of race no.99 dated 31-12-2015. Khayyam was running start to finish and B Fifty Two comes and overtakes the horse easily in the last 200m and wins by 2L. I still could not absorb as I lost lot of money on it. Please check the recording if you can get it, clearly the staff in the room had given their comments saying B52 was much superior and won easily. After all this the decision was upheld. I haven't seen such ridiculous decision in my life.

Comparing to the above result, I feel the decision is OK for Star Scholar as Master Sergeant cut across the horse in the last 50m and TP had to check his mount. We are not sure if he was going to win or not??

The objection which was upheld for Khayyam still lingering in my mind.

Your comments please after replay of both the races. Thanks