Mumbai Mirror, March 18, 2014 DARK HORSE, Sanity and credibility both desert RWITC Everybody who tracks the Sport of Kings anywhere in the country will be certainly aware of the recent upheaval at RWITC. Given the circumstances, if anyone feels that horseracingisnottheturfclub’sprimary business anymore, he should be forgiven for harbouring such a view. In reality, the focus has abruptly shiftedfromthesportandtheissues being dealt with by the stewards’ body are instead gaining unfavourable publicity, something which the club can do without. What’s more disturbing is the character assassinations being carried out brazenly which is actually vandalising both the club’s reputation and the sport’s image. It’s as if sanity and credibility have both deserted the RWITC. Whathasledtothisunfortunate situation is the soap opera that’s currently running at RWITC with PesiShroff,VivekJain,KNDhunjibhoy and CD Katrak as the star cast. The drama unfolds with a filly testing positive for a banned drug substance but all hell breaks loose thereafter. FLOP SHOW To add intrigue, Shroff approaches the police leading to four suspects being arrested. One of them triggers aflashbackoftheKnightNDayincident. Meanwhile, an unnecessary row erupts between Jain and Dhunjibhoy about Shroff’s fate with Maneka Gandhi and the Animal Welfare Board making special appearances. Amid all this, allegations that steward/s “wine and dine” with controversial professional/s emerged. Iftherewasn’tenoughmasalain this perceived blockbuster already, Katrak goes to the police saying that Shroff has threatened to implicate him in the Boldenone case which makes him feel insecure. The climax of this episode was interesting too. When Jain asked Shroff whether he is a partner in Nanoli Stud Farm, the state’s government nominee on the stewards’ body and Anti Corruption Bureau chief Praveen Dixit objected saying that the question reeks of prejudice. The scenes that followed were emotional to say the least. Shroff eventually got a ninemonth suspension with compulsory sampling of his entire string thrown in for good measure. It’s also being said that the stewards are inquiring into the running of the 1997 Indian Derby won by Indictment on being informed that Shroff had “thrown” the race astride runner-up Arabian Rose. Even though the outcome may titillate some, it was nothing but a flop show. God forbid, if Shroff doesn’t take kindly to this punishment, a sequel could be on its way. AMICUS CURIAE Similar to what the Bombay H C said in a recent ruling that ‘the sanction to prosecute a government official on corruption charges should not be viewed as a mechanical action,’ the RWITC stewards must also ponder whether a trainer can automatically be held “vicariously liable” for any offence. Given the sensitivity of the incident, to dispel any doubts of prejudice against Dhunjibhoy and his professionals and to establish that they are above board, it would’ve beenappropriateforthestewardsto appoint a few amici curiae to assist them. Seriously speaking, the institution and horse racing continue to suffer due to adverse machinations. It may be asking for too much but, sincerely, some senior club members should try and bring the hostilities between Jain and Dhunjibhoy to an end. We’ve had enough of the intermittent personality clashes in the last three decades; it’s time the club and the sport got priority. LOCKED IN BATTLE: Pesi Shroff, Vivek Jain and Khushroo Dhunjibhoy
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 06:50:48 +0000
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