Abhay singh,

I never said that railway revenue should be compared with race revenue.  All I said was when the Government is showing supreme indifference to losses from the Railways, it is naive on our part to expect anything different from them regarding revenue from horse racing.

"Other countries have allowed racing!"

Right.  But for Indian politicians, racing is a sin.  They want to discourage racing.  In Karnataka, racing was not permitted ffor nearly 6 months.  Only after Court intervention the racing resumed.

Bookies are indulging in daylight fraud.  The authorities shamelessly just wink at such mischief from the bookies.  Instead they (authorities)  shed crocodile tears about illegal betting.  Such thing is going on for more than a decade.  Every bookie has indulged in criminal tax evasion sufficient to throw them behind bars for next 5000 years.  

But, the Government is holding up permission to races.  I welcome such no non sense attitude of the Government. I also expect you to upvote my view because such a move  has helped the punters substantially.  It seems you feel that regular racing would have given you decent tax free income.  O K.  But understand that we live in India and whether we like it or not, we have to obey all the rules and regulations that is ordered by the Government.  If you feel that the Government order is haughty, arbitrary and hopelessly stupid, that is your view.  It does not mean anythng to Government.  

Regarding your views about tote.  I am the first to come to the defence of the bookies though I am a tote player.  Let the bookies come, win all the money they can and walk to the bank daily with truckloads of cash.  But, let them do it as per rules.  

Raghavan sir this is precisely what I am trying to say , what has opening of railways got to do with racing. Whether it makes 90000 cr in lossrs what racing got to do with that.just because railways is not opening racing should not open is an absurd argument. See other countries trains were shut but racing was contining.

Certnly bookies do an illegal act when they take bets at 10 perc but my point is they are not the only one responsible for this .the govt also knows this. this is openly happening.

Mr SSPPsir neither iam a bookie nor I have any friends as bookies.certenly iam desperate for racing to start.but my desperation doesnot matter since it is for the govt to decide. I was in no way trying to attack mr  Raghavan as u have perceived.it was my views about the bookies.  u may have ur views that they are looting the punters and all are loosing money.  In that case if bookies are closed then punters will start winning by betting on the tote. Tote is always there what stops them from betting and winning. Sir in no game or business every body will win or loose but it is true that majority of punters loose money and they them selves are to be blamed for this.every body now's how difficult it to win in racing.if it would have been easy no body would have worked outside sab racing mein aa jate to earn easy money

Races will resume by the end of September month dont worry guys just chill out...

@ Abhay Singh : This is in response to your rejoinder to Mr Raghavan. Notwithstanding your experience and knowledge in horse racing, I feel you have no focus or clarity. You just wanted to attack Mr Raghavan and, therefore, you have moved from bookies to owners and trainers, praising them onr after the other for their 'hard work' in achieving success. That you don't want bookmakers to be criticised in any manner gives rise to a serious doubt if you are yourself a bookie (if not a full-fledged one, the ones that we get to see on the floor of the ring?). Mr Raghavan has been waging this battle against bookies based on valid reasons since long. Just because you want to destroy your life further by way of donating money to the bookies once again, you should not attempt to engage in this kind of mudslinging against a person, who has earned a lot of respect in these columns for speaking the truth. You are so desperate like a few others that you want racing to commence at any cost or else you may go mad. Better get admitted in some hospital and have a thorough check-up, particularly your mental status. You have no right whatsoever to throw abuse at someone like Mr Raghavan, who has never claimed that he has been making money in racing or that he has been in heavy losses. Control your emoitons.

Abhay Singh,

You are telling that if railways can operate 200 trains, they can as well operate 2000 trains.  Well.  We two can argue endlessly about that.  I can only say that in the railway department, there are more qualified and competent personnel than we two and they will decide when the train servces can be increased to 2000 or more trains.

You are asking me why I hate bookies.  I hope you will agree with me when I say that I have nothing against them.  They are my best friends.  Let them confuse the punters to the maximum and gain in lakhs or millions daily.  It is their business & I have no objection.  But, my only objection is their taking bets at 10%.  Rule says that they should collect the gst and club commission alongwith bets and give the punter proper bet card.  They are supposed to follow that rule.  That is all.  And, by taking bets at 10%, they cheat the club, Government.  And sadly everyone in authority just wink at them.

If a punter looses a bet & money, then he only is responsible for that.  No sympathy towards that punter.  I do not blame bookies for that.   

It is really silly on your part to suggest that bookies should indcate the winner in each & every race.  They are doing business and I only ask them to do the business as per rules.  If the GST is too high, then they should not worry about that.  Let the punters bet only if they are ready to cough up the gst & club commission.

"In this country there is corruption everywhere.  So, why I am targeting the bookies?"  I have no answer for such self serving arguments. 

Prajwal,

"Sale of alcohol is permitted.  Then why so much restriction for racing?"

Consumption of liquor and gambling are the two biggest weakness of men.  And sure road to bankruptcy for middle class people.  So, it is really inexplicable that Government is lenient on liquor sales and doubly strict on race betting.   I have spoken several times that almost every politician in this country generally hate race betting and they treat alcohol addicts with kid gloves.  And of course, the Government gets substantial revenue from liquor sales.  In racing they get only pea nuts and will cheerfully forefeit that pittance of revenue.

I already mentioned my concern in my HT Post(May) .How can the RWITC  be Optimistic about start of Pune Racing? I put my Realistic opinion, for Community Wellness .Because we dont know when the situation going to be improve.

Take Care.

Raghavan,

It's k that you think that clubs are eager to start the races but when you seek permissions from the government you have to go there with full pledged plan than being eager . when you don't have the capacity to give government good revenues because of your own grievances then the government  will also not care for you. You get what you give .If the alcohol is allowed  for sale in the country without any norms then why not racing with it  .We have to  think of racing improving to the international standards atleast now in india .Now or never

raghavan

Yu are correct I realised it later,,It was 90,000 as of May

Raghavan sir 

When railway can operate 200 trains with full seats it can operate 2000 trains what stops it from doing so only govt knows at least corona is not stopping. When corona is not entering those 200 trains then 2000 trains can also be operated with same safety.but the problem is govt knows that people are not travelling and trains will go completely empty if the nos are increased.railwas gets most of its revenue from freight and not passenger services

Sir why so much hate for the bookies because they steal gst or they loot the punters.as far as gst is concerned every body knows what is happening and bookies are not the only one to be blamed for this.it is for the govt to reduce the gst and get the system right.but it will not do because every body is enjoying this illegal money.we should accept that we live in a corrupt country and things are like that every where. Do you thing every body is paying gst with full honesty outside the club.

Now coming to the looting the punters I think in every race  bookies should put up a board and write on it which horse is winning so the people like u can happly play and keep winning. How they are looting I don't understand they will certenly confuse u but they never tell u play a horse it is for u to decide. Why do u get carried away by false Rumers and change ur selection and cry later.this is the game all about .the biggest culpits are owners and trainers but I don't blame them either.  Every body is doing what he is suppose to do.using all the tricks are the owners winning easily answer is no.are the bookies winning easily answer is no.no one in the game of racing will get the money on a plate.if u can't win just stop betting and accept that it is not my cup of tea but please stop complaning and blamming others for ur losses.

Most of us are not  keen for racing in the present  scene with pune showing no signs  or abetment  [Delhi recorded around 670 cases in 24 hours].

Paytm is not a practcal thing   so we will have to wait till dec/jan.

Another side of te coin.   Independence  day in Delhi had 4000 persons  5 sug pooj a   had 250 persone in spite of a priest and 9 policemen testing positve,head priest with Pm on Dias tests positive  The riule for general public is 50! 

So much so for rules and regjulations  for the general public

HP++

You have given 120 lakh crores as estimated loss.  I think you should correct the figure as 120 thousand crores.

Of course it is only estimate.  May translate into reality also.  As such railways are operating 200 trains (100 pairs).  I am not jyothishi or astrologer.  It is only my gut feeling that Railways may, by year end take some risk and restart 500 trains (250 pairs).  

It's going to be no normal racing activities in 2020..

Indian racing enters into a phase of Longtime recession...End of Era.. Racing authorities wrong doings in good time shoino it's consequences

When racing can start  ?????

This happens when the people in the major cities are immune to Covid virus or 90 % are vaccinated and this may happen in Nov-20 or Dec-20.

Till such time we may have to quarentine ourself.

Prajwal,

There are some punters who fault whatever I say.

I am not patting my own back.  All I am saying is races are put on hold because of the virus threat.  There are many who feel that the virus threat should not be the reason for stopping the races.  For argument sake agreed that what they feel may be correct.  But, the Government thinks otherwise.

And when the conflct is between a section of public & the Government, the will of the Government only should prevail.   Even if you are not satisfied with Government's handling of the situation you have very bleak chances of making the Government see reason.  At best, you can go to Court.  And, in the prevailing circumstances, there are zero chances of Courts quashing the Government order or decision.  

Do not blame rwitc of incompetence.  The turf clubs are most eager to see that races are run so that bookies are given an opportunity to loot the punters.  

In India there is racing only in 6 States.  And in those six states also, there are hardly one lakh punters who try their luck.  A hopeless minority!  And, they definitely have no strength to fight against the might of the Government.

And, whether those one lakh people are following the Government rules?  Are they betting by paying 28% gst and 4-5% club commission?  What locus standi these punters have in demanding the Government that races should be permitted? 

LAW OF THE LAND IS SUPREME.

Raghavan

The Rlys have estimated a 120 lac crore loss for the FY 20/21

Govt. Declared covid vaccine is going to be released by 15th aug but what happened like so many dates will become rumours and will disappear, one of our friend pointed abt railways same thing happening dates are announcing & postponing , the same thing with racing also. First of all everybody think how to face the situation of covid to survive then think about the rest things, according to my analysis in 2020 racing will be very difficult under these circumstances. May be in next year only.

s-ihttps://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lockdown-effect-indian-railways-staring-at-rs-90-000-crore-shortfalln-earnings-1675200-2020-05-07

7 days after Corona took over in March  20 I had said that it is  curtains for the Mumbai season 2020,and yu cud expect a late Pune start.Only ray of hope is, If and if the trains started.The time table for the trains stood cancelled till the 12th of Aug.Now that date has been bypassed.No Govt Officer is comitt ing a date for the resumptions of trains, let it misfires..

Now Pune looks bleak and dusted.

About the railway Loss,no economist in the world can even hazard a wild guess about the monetary loss to the Indian railways.Only the Rly budget can give yu a wild estimated guess

Raghavan,

Don't tap your own shoulder saying I said it before it was because of the incompetence of the rwitc that the races are not run in August let's hope for September. No one has the timidity to face the real consequences. 

There is not much surprise in the news.  I have said several times that it shall be a miracle if races start on 23rd.  But there were too many who believed that Poonawallah will be able to convince the Government.

Well.  The next question is will it start during September?

It shall be better if  rwitc announces cancellation of 2020 Pune  season & the owners of horses start moving all horses stationed at Pune to Mumbai and hope that racing starts at Mumbai durng November.

Will that not result in revenue loss to the exchequer?

I think H P ++ is the right person to answer that question. I think he will be able to tell how much revenue the Government is losing because they have suspended 98.5% trains.

What to say on this..

Everything is late in India.technology, education ,science even virus also late in india. 

Horses like Brazil, USA, has more patient without lockdown.but India is like lockdown+ economy loss & spotted on 3rd position..India is running like speedy horse on winning post & will definitely  canter in style (least 10 lengths from rest of the world)

We have to thanks to our  leaders & their intellectual ,they are not giving any single opportunity to spread virus.. They study well !! They find virus is like that husband who don't like to go daily in vegetables market ,so veg markets are safe  but virus is more cautious for his own health so don't start any Sports, & Gym activitie.virus is so poor ,airplanes are quite expensive ,Trains/buses quite affordable so Dont start that.Virus is desperate to complete his education.. So don't opens school.. Virus love to watch movies so don't open theater(let him to subscribe Netflix plan so we can trace his bank details).virus shall file discrimination case so don't open any courts& finally don't even him allowed to complaint to Gods.. close the temples.