Presently racing is conducted without spectators & without bookies.  Pune (Mumbai) is starting today.  So, action is missing only at Delhi!

The quantum of sales at BNG tote is pathetic.  There was at an average 1,50,000/- collections towards exacta pool & around 60k to 90k for trinella & forecast pools.  Even with bookies operating & hefty GST, the sales towards win pool was around 15,00,000.  But, currently the sales towards exacta, forecast & trinella are in the range of 5000 to 7000.  And the sales towards win pool are less than 2,50,000.

Of course with the covid 19 threat, no spectators are allowed.  But, when will this restriction will be relaxed or lifted?  Horsetalk members are welcome to guess/speculate.

I can understand the limited sales till 1 pm by the BTC management.  But what I can not understand is the foolish approach by the BTC in allowing the sales.

Limited number of staff are called for duty.  And, the punters are asked to buy ticket/s in the second enclosure.  

In the 2nd enclosure, every inch is occupied.  Every punter will buy tickets in at least 6 races in a day.  So, the queue moves at snail's pace.    I do not know whether to cry or laugh at the continuous public announcement requesting the punters to maintain social distance.  So far no stampede or death is reported.  To that extent everyone is happy.  But, how many will be trapped with coronavirus is anybody's guess.

Instead, they can invite at least 20 to 30 more staff, issue tickets at 1st enclosure.  They need not worry about cost of such a move.  They can just charge 10/- or 20/-  entrance fees which will take care of the staff salaries.  I do not think anyone will object to this small tariff.  And the area at 1st enclosure is definitely more than that of 1st enclosure.

BTC may be thinking that it is giving some service to punters without charging them.  But, it is playing a dangerous game.  I can not understand their reluctance to open 1st enclosure.  They may pat themselves that they are allowing punters to buy tickets without any entrance fees.  But, they may actually gift covid disease to many punters.