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Anil Mukhi
April 2: High drama was witnessed at the Mahalakshmi Racecourse on Thursday, when trainers owing allegiance to the Western India Trainers Association refused to saddle their runners for the First Extra Day's races, scheduled for a 3:30 pm start. After giving the trainers an ultimatum to bring in their horses to the paddock by 3:20 pm, which was not heeded, the stewards cancelled the card.
By their intemperate action, the hot-heads amongst trainers caused needless inconvenience to racing patrons all over the country, as also to a range of ancillary agencies like caterers, race-card vendors, and so on.
What triggered the flash protest was the decision of the Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd to debit the trainers' accounts on April 1 with electricity charges. The cost of electricity consumed in the stable area had been borne by the race club for several years, but in view of its precarious financial condition, the club had decided to bill for this service from May 1998.
Discussions with trainers andowners were going on for several months. The club's action followed outright refusal by owners to be lumped with these charges for what were after all establishment expenses of trainers. What's more, to sweeten the pill, the club had magnanimously agreed to charge trainers with only 50 per cent of the amount payable, and that too divided in a dozen installments spread over a year!
For all those who believe there is no such thing as a "free lunch", it would appear to be a case of much ado about nothing. Surely, the user of a service must pay for it? At least that is the general principle in commerce anywhere else in the world. But some of the Western India trainers evidently fancy themselves as something special, immune to any adverse winds or market downturns.
Had such recessionary changes as have recently taken place in the Indian economy not occurred, it is quite possible these trainers would have continued to get away with their shenanigans for years. Unfortunately for them, with burning holes in theirpockets due to the spiralling cost of maintaining horses, owners have collectively put their feet down and are no longer prepared to be taken for a ride.
In fact, by their high-handed behaviour, these trainers have forfeited any claim to public sympathy and, in effect, have written their own epitaphs. There is a swelling clamour from amongst owners for the abolition of the Basic Training Fee scheme, which in any case probably amounts to a restrictive trade practice.
Likewise, demands were voiced on Thursday for a sharp rise in fees for trainers' licences, as also for them to have to declare their assets annually. Certainly, the heat will be too much to bear for some of the lesser lights, who will have to close shop.
At the moment, the club -- for once -- appears to have mustered the will to act tough, and four trainers (who had runners in the first race which were not saddled) have been fined Rs 15,000 apiece for violation of the relevant Racing Calendar notification.
One hopes that this new-foundenthusiasm continues, and that the golden opportunity of cutting the puffed-up trainers to size is not missed. There must be few vocations in India which require no real educational qualifications, zero capital, no accountability for poor performance, and provide unconscionable opportunity to get rich by way of monthly bills and commission on earnings, not forgetting lavish presents and secret "backhanders" on purchases of horses.
This writer recalls a humorous talk given by a committee member of the Madras Race Club some 20 years ago on the progress of a trainer once he gets a licence (remember, those were pre-Maruti days). His tongue-in-cheek observations were: 1. First he gets FAT 2. Then he moves in a FIAT 3. Soon he acquires a FLAT 4. Finally he operates a FLOAT (horse van)
Without doubt, as in any other profession, there are some good, honest and hard-working souls in the fraternity. It is for them now to rein in their reckless colleagues before the "goose that lays the golden eggs" lies prostrate,devoid of life.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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