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Suspense Continues About Resumption Of Races.

By Raghavan | 27-Apr-2020

Many views have appeared in this forum.  The latest being from SSPP who has dismissed all possibilities of racing in India in the current calendar year.

SSPP knows what he is talking about.  It was he who first posted in this site the possibility of racing being suspended due to virus scare.  He was pooh poohed.  Even I had felt that there may not be any problem to  racing.  But, racing stopped; abruptly; from 13th March.

I expected that racing will resume during 3rd week of May at BNG, followed by summer racing at Mysore and then monsoon racing at Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune.  But that thinking was during March 2020, when the number of persons attacked due to caronavirus were relatively low. 

But, today I am not that much optimistic.  However, I will neither endorse nor dismiss  what SSPP says (there will be no racing during 2020).  At the same time, I will neither endorse nor dismiss what Sagar says also. (racing to resume during Mid-June).

Some enthusiasts are mooting the idea of early resumption of races but to maintain the social distancing, the clubs should permit online betting.

Online betting is not joke.  First, all the turfclubs should express its willingness to start racing; the Government should be satisfied about the feasibility of conducting races; then suitable rules should be framed about the online betting.  

Regarding online betting, I think many horsetalk members are of the view that betting is possible with bookies at 10% tax.  I do not think so.  If the online betting is permitted, then the punters has to cough up 28% gst and 5% club commission.  (At present some bookies are taking online betting through whatsapp in a limited scale).

As on date, betting is possible from racing centers and offcourse betting centers.  If online betting is introduced, then betting will be possible from Kashmir to Sethu.  Which means a person staying at a remote place in Assam, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat etc will be able to bet.  I do not think the Chief Ministers of those States where there is no racing will okay such move.  No doubt the Government will get revenue.  But, just understand that if ganja sales is legalised, then also the Government will get revenue. 

Only when all current generation Chief Ministers retire and make way for next generation politicians, online betting may be possible.

Now come back to racing.  When it will resume?  Answer to that can come from Turf Clubs only.  But, there is deafening silence from club management on this aspect. 

They should put pressure to the Government by narrating sob stories of 1000s of temporary staff, some jockeys & trainers, and the plight of so many owners who have invested any amount between 10k to 500k to 1000k or more while buying horses.  

Our prediction can at best be a guess only.   We are all eager that racing is started.  But, our eagerness will not  influence the Government decusion.  At Bangalore,  there was some controversy and the racing was not permitted for 6 to 8 months.  (I think during 2017).  That means, the Government is not too much bothered about the revenue it gets or does not get  from racing.

I agree that temporary staff, good number of jockeys, owners are in difficult times.  So, I can understand if they made a strong demand for racing to resume.  If bookies feel that they are deprived of a huge profit, there is some justification for their demand for resumption of races.  But, what I can not understand is how punters are so eager to start of races.  I am amused.

It is a losing proposition.   I have written may be  a 100 times that I will be more than happy if I achieve the strike rate of 15% on my forecast bets.  Of course, Chanakya has mastered a system where he can score 100% strike rate on all pools.  (exacta/trinella/forecast/treble/jackpot).  

So, horse talk members;  PLEASE TAKE IT EASY.  The present lock down is till May 3rd.  We do not know whether lock down will be relaxed on May 4th or we are heading towards lockdown 3.0, lockdown 4.0 etc   All race punters are left with decent amount of cash in their pocket, courtesy no races and no liquor.   

You should  worry about racing if and when the turf clubs in consultation with Government decide on that issue. Till then watch races at Hong Kong, USA etc in your computer!

Post Your reply

8 Replies

Vinay.gowda said ...

28-Apr-2020

Club members were laughing when the 28% was imposed on bets not on club commission. I pray race should not commence till 2021. Let the club too suffer as we did after demon. Afterall who is paying them.When no one cared about us Corona came to our rescue. Long hail corona. why should clubs have all the fun lolz..

R.ramesh said ...

28-Apr-2020

Raghavan sir,

Unless they invent a vaccine nobody is safe. It looks very dreadful. Government will not take the risk at this crucial juncture.

No other go, have to wait sir.

 

Kartik Panja said ...

28-Apr-2020

Racing in India is on Vargas of collapse... Racing authorities are handicapped..They could have done Breakingmany things..but totally Planted.. 

No possibility live racing at any center till September in india .. because of social distancing clause.

It well could well be  possible no horse racing in 2020 and its severe fallout. ...horse racing gets terrible battering down'may on Verge of collapse..

Srinivasan C V said ...

28-Apr-2020

Please visit the WHO site which shows the detailed account of Covid-19 and every day it is updated. Here is the link.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Yesterday (27-4-20) the position was Total cases 29451 and new cases with in 29451 (+ 1561)

Today (28-4-20) the position at 11:30 AM is 29451 and No increase in new cases. From these we may presume the races may start at 2nd week of June20.

Thank you

 

Iimblue said ...

28-Apr-2020

 

All India Online Tote will be a nonstarter and will be a colossal failure ,even if it is started. 

Tote will be successful as long as it is a " zero sum game" or practically a " near zero sum game ".When some punter is losing, some other punters are making profit. Overall,  the gain/ loss will be within Punter community only. This is possible only if the deductions are in a reasonable limit,  say 10%.

As Raghavan Sir,  has pointed out there is a third player in the equation taking away 33% ( 28+5 ) from each bet. This means losers lose everything, while winners donot gain anything.Moreover , for every big payment,  there will be further deduction at source! 

Surely this scenario will create a fertile ground for illegal bookmakers and sooner than later invite the wrath of the government. 

In my humble opinion the idea of All India Tote has come and gone!  When the conditions were favourable,  the Clubs were sleeping and spent their energies in silly fighting. Now the writing is on the way and it is too late to do anything  !

Smart-still-poor-punter said ...

27-Apr-2020

It is true that horse racing has been affected, probably beyond repair, post-Covid. The 'Sport of Kings' now seems to have left behind a few kings and many paupers.

If at all there's anyone who can at least attempt to find a solution to the present crisis, it can only be the respective race clubs across India. However, with many state governments struggling hard to keep human lives intact, no race club will dare to take on the government in this lockdown juncture.

     With lockdown also well set to get extended for a third time (and maybe for fourth round too), not many hopes can really be nurtured on resumption of horse racing in India during 2020. I am not saying this with any negative feel but after studying the case deep and sharp

    First, take the case of race horse owners. Except for the Poonawalas and his likes, how many owners can keep paying the bills? Time is fast approaching for many small-time owners to sell their horses for throw-away prices and reinvest the money in some other business. Trainers are also facing a similar fate. Less said about the jockeys the better. If at all trials are allowed, you can see even leading jockeys fighting with each other to accept to ride any horse in the trackwork. Such is the pathetic condition of the Indian racing industry today.

     Even if the respective state governments take a brave decision to allow horse racing, say from August or September, training of horses may commence with strict protocols. That is when we will also see sprinters running like stayers in the track because of this longish silence in stables.

     The luckiest lot among all those who are involved in the industry are the punters. How many racegoers must have already said several thousand rupees by not getting an opportunity to bet? Like you, I too feel pity for the workers in various race courses but it's wise for them to look for alternative jobs because this industry could turn worse in the next few months. I mean it. 

Ayyarnet said ...

27-Apr-2020

Shri. Raghavan ji

Our Turf can not do any thing on their own. They have to abide by the Govt.directives. Since there is no gurantee to restore normalcy more over Horses are might be starving to some extent deprieved of their regular training and they may not be in readiness to race atleast for a fortnight after lifting the lockdown. This is my personalopinion. Since a life of a person is more important than sports or entertainment Govt. will not rush to do any thing in a hurry. 

Racegoes will have no option but to wait patiently only. They can improve their selection or winner picking ability with other International Races. On line betting I do not knowhow we will get our dues if we win by chance. Once we give our credit or debit card details funds will be debited from our accounts. But how we will get our dues. No idea.

Huurried business is indeed a burried business saysan English proverb. So let us not rush on any thing.

 

Regads to all

ayyarnet