Friends,

The million dollar question is " When will racing start"

Race goers are the most optimistic community I ever came across.  Let me narrate one incident.  Once, in DRC, the main entry point to RC was closed due to some reason (dont remember exactly, may be VIP movement) and therefore a small gate from other side was open.  The punters and bookies all had to walk about a mile to enter the main gate, and the path was may be the outer sand track.  And i saw, both punters and bookies literaly running to the race course, so that they can bet/take bets.  One thing was for sure, either of the community would win, but both were so optimistic, and I (punter of course) was bemused to see the humans running faster than horsess.  Of course I was also walking faster than normal. hehe.

now back to million dollar question...... IMO, racing will be the last thing to open in the country, because the moment racing opens, every other community will shout on the government that if racing can open, why not our business.  and govt. knows that..

Let dig a little deeper and predict future.  The best recourse from corona which we are anticpating is vaccine.  What does this mean actually?  This means that we cure cororna, not prevent it.  So even if the vaccination comes, the "new normal" has to go on for may be years.  After the vaccination also, the mask and other precuations has to continue..

So why stop racing, the government should start spectator racing, with strict SOP.  Race clubs and equipped with CCTV.  So any person who violates the SOP should be banned for life for entering RC. For example, a person without wearing mask is banned for life. or alternatively a 1000 Rs. security be deposited at RC, and if a person is seen violating SOP, he deposit be forfeited.  If RC officials lax in their duty of imposing SOP, they should be fined/jailed.  Only alternative TOTE window opens, queue be with social distancing.  Alternative chairs to be occupied.  Alternate bookies stall to open and so on.  Free santisaters dispensation machines...... Delhi Metro formula basically.

Let the racing begin...