THUNDER OF HOOVES AGAIN AT MAHALAXMI

Its been a long wait, like all avid race goers I hope that it was worth waiting for. Mahalaxmi racecourse will be abuzz again, the tracks will be set ablaze by the choicest thoroughbreds of the country, premier events due to curtailed season will be in quick succession, keeping interest in the young horses optimum.

As I said I hope it was worth waiting for, because two major fires have affected infrastructure, recent visits show not satisfactory progress has been made, but then we avid race goers have been adjusting with insensitive authorities who haven't achieved much for the comfort of a race goers and in turn there is a loss in numbers of the patrons and glamor of the racing at Mahalaxmi.

I just can't help but wonder at the religious race goers who brave the high taxes, lack of comfort, lack of decent viewing TV sets, adjust with hundred year old chairs to cheer our favorite thoroughbreds on turf, this season we will not complain about the facilities, we will not complain about the messy cloakrooms and stinking air near them, nor will we complain about the sorry sandwiches, and ancient snacks which are more repulsive than palatable, we will not complain because Turf club is passing through trying times and we wish them godspeed to solve the issues and then make things better for all of us.

What we will complain about is the standard of racing which had plunged to abysmal depths in Pune. We simply hope that racing is conducted fairly, and no bomb shells like Pune explode on turf taking followers of form to cleaners. I am hoping that while infrastructure is being rebuilt, racing itself will be great and attract punters and patrons back in larger numbers.

Members enclosure is large and current numbers of members are insufficient to fill the place up, the idea of a member signing for the guests is ancient, because at the gates anyone who wishes to get in the members enclosure is admitted after his name is jotted down on any signed form that's available and anyone and everyone who knows this loophole is admitted without questions asked.This entry farce must come to a halt as it definitely is a deterrent to honest guys wanting to be at the race course but it is beyond their status to get into the non member enclosure which is in terrible condition and these guys are not aware of lax rules prevail ing at Mahalaxmi gates.

It will be advisable for the turf club to issue day / weekend passes to enclosure, maybe even season passes to anyone interested and following a certain dress code, it will attract younger patrons who can develop interests other than watching cricket, films or visiting a mall. I am sure turf club can launch promotionals and hand out members enclousure passes to youngsters via campaigns on FM or malls, 50 free season passes or hundred weekend passes, 10 passes for derby could attract new people to the race course, why doesn't anyone do it?

However I am sure with such a curtailed season coming back on tragic accidents at the race course, this year we must excuse the turf club for not bettering the infrastructure but I sincerely hope from next year Mumbai and Mahalaxmi gains it premier position in the country with top class facilities for paying public including AC lounges and Plasma and LCD televisions, and modernized cloakrooms and outlets of class food products and beer/ spirits reasonably priced, unlike gallops and finally and most necessary comfortable seating. In days of red lounges, Turf club has seating of stone age. Let racing become an exclusive entertainment, and regain it's stature as King of sports.

All the infrastructure will be useless if racing continues the way it has been in last part of Mumbai season and all of Pune, there was no consistency in performance and handicapper rendered redundant. Few owners and their connections land three/ four winners, cashing huge CDTQ (i.e Kainchi's or Cross, Double, treble, Quadraple) while punters face the problem of keeping track of too many sleepers who return winners when least expected, especially when their connections fancied horses run behind them.

Mumbai Ring is beset with illegal bookies, some in this profession from quarter century and they have never been picked, funny thing is owners and trainers also bet with them. This is something against the spirit of fair racing. Mumbai ring is a clear indicator of which favorite is out of the race, anyone who bets late, knows what's going to happen. This shows that things are not right, tough action has been taken against some professionals last season, I wonder why repeat offenders are not banned forever, guys like Riyaz Sheikh will be allowed to become trainers in future, is there a code of discipline in place?

All punters are advised caution as the racing begins, I am not sure how fit the horses are and what's their form after the equine flu, the card of 20 race s on the opening weekend will throw up no more than six or seven first favorites, and as the recent history of racing in this part of the world has shown, form and bloodlines matter lesser and lesser.

I expect Pesi Shroff to continue his domination, Buzz is that CD Katrak, Bezan and SS Shah have nice type and forward youngsters, I expect Mansoor Shah to elevate his position further, I expect Altaf Hussein to land a few more successful gambles, I hope Ivor fernandes retires and Vinayak to display on turf all his knowledge and experience, it beats me why he remains on the fringes and not in top five. I expect Rehanullah Khan also to do well this season and hope Narendra Lagad reduces the number of fancied runners from his stable in the races, we never know which horse he is going with, does he?

Mallesh will dominate the saddle, let the guys get as many foriegn imports, Mallesh is the best. I hope Neeraj Rawal gets good mounts and C Ruzaan finds his touch back. From all other jockeys I expect TS Jodha to do well, his ridership in Hyderabad has been excellent so far. We racegoers have high hopes from races at Mahalaxmi this year, I am hoping the average punter has good fun and is not taken to cleaners and lost to the turf club forever, like I know we have lost a few staunch racegoers after Pune season...let the show begin...and let it be successful...Mumbai has to lead the way if racing has to survive in India.