News Around Archives
2003-04

Racing needs an image makeover
Observers of horse racing have started commenting that the sport is in a state of steady decline and enthusiasm for the game is on the wane. By Vivek Jain 

Praiseworthy efforts by Nargolkar and Mukhi 
Hot on the heels of the publication of Indian Bloodstock Review 2004 by Anil Mukhi, a book on the champion horses in the country who have left an indelible mark on Indian racing has been brought out in an attractive get up. By Sharan Kumar

Feel good’ factor swamps RWITC administration
There is strong likelihood that the media managers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are ardent racegoers or probably have accurate knowledge of the functioning of the Royal Western India Turf Club. Read on...

Are the RWITC Stewards right, legally and morally, to act as jurors?
More than a week has passed since the Gold Star versus winner Secret Warrior incident but the controversy about the alleged partisan role played by the RWITC Stewards refuses to die down. By Usman Rangila

Indiarace.com’s distinction
The followers of indiarace.com would have reaped a rich harvest by following the selections given on the website for the recently concluded Bangalore Winter Season. Read on...

Disturbing trends at RWITC
The controversial awarding of the race to Gold Star at the expense of Secret Warrior last Sunday has only served to expose the chinks in the administrative set up of Royal Western Indian Turf Club. The bold decision taken some time back to telecast live the proceedings has brought to light the callous manner in which the powers-that-be dispense with objections that could have far-reaching consequences. By Sharan Kumar

Aslam Kader decides to hang his boots 
Even as the racing fraternity is gearing up for the Invitation Cup weekend, jockey Aslam Kader has stunned them by announcing his retirement on Thursday. Read on...

Nominees for Invitational races

Zurbaran, Classical Act to race at Dubai on Thursday 
India’s leading performers Zurbaran (Peaks And Valleys) and Classical Act (Placerville) have arrived in Dubai and they will make their debut on dirt track on Thursday, February 12.  Read On

RWITC auction sales on Feb 6
The RWITC Ltd. will be holding its Annual Auction Sales of two year olds in Pune on Friday, February 6 at 3.00 p.m. at the paddock of the Pune Race Course, according to a Press Release from the Indian Stud Book. Read On

Handicapping course returns to Bangalore
The handicapping course that made its debut in Bangalore in June 2003 before moving to Mumbai (October '03) and Hyderabad (November '03) now returns to the garden city on November 25 & 26, 2003. Read on...

Dr MAM Ramaswamy likely to shift horses to Chennai after rejection of Dallas’ appeal
In a move that could have far reaching consequences on horse racing in Western India, Dr M.A.M. Ramaswamy is reportedly pulling out his entire string of 57 horses from this centre and shifting them to Chennai. By Usman Rangila

30-day cold weather season from November 5
Live racing returns to Calcutta after nearly a month. The 30-day Calcutta winter racing season that starts from November 5 will see a shade under 366 horses vying for 233 race events. By Aalibaba 

Opening day races postponed
Owing to unfit race track conditions because of heavy rain early in the week and also some other factors have compelled the stewards Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) to postpone the season's.. By Aalibaba 

Darius Byramji-trained Rose Garden tests positive
One more case of breach of medication rules has been detected after the four-year-old filly Rose Garden tested positive for Pentazocine, which falls in the list of Class III drug substances banned.. By Usman Rangila

RWITC slams its doors on Dallas Todywalla 
The doors of the RWITC have virtually been slammed on trainer Dallas Todywalla after the Stewards of the Club rejected his appeal at their meeting held at the Mahalaxmi Race Course on Wednesday. By Usman Rangila

OWNERS & TRAINERS UP IN ARMS AT BANGALORE
A prompt start to the Bangalore Winter Season 2003-2004 seems to be in jeopardy as the terms and conditions as laid down by the BTC in their draft prospectus has caused a lot of heartburn to both the trainers and owners.  By Sanjay Reddy

EQUINE PRACTIONERS SEMINAR AT PUNE
The INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF EQUINE PRACTIONERS (IAEP) is organising an interactive Wet lab at the Pune racecourse Equine Hospital from November 03 to 07, 2003. By Sanjay Reddy

Mamool appears the one who all will have to beat in The Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is the jewel in the crown of Australian horse racing and Melbourne Cup Day, which is traditionally held in the first Tuesday of November each year, has always been a public holiday in Melbourne.  By Bob Sawhny

Yet another success for Zurbaran 
Padmanabhan trained Zurbaran who has been something of a phenomenon since last winter, picked up his seventh graded race when winning the Gr 2 Golconda St Leger, the last classic of the monsoon season on Monday. By Sharan Kumar

Colic takes a heavy toll at BTC
Colic struck a devastating blow to young trainer Arjun Mangalorkar as he lost seven fashionably bred horses in one day alone on Thursday at the Bangalore Turf Club. Read On

Jockey V. Kotwal found riding under influence of alcohol
Apprentice jockeys K. Deepesh and V. Kotwal have incurred the wrath of the RWITC Stewards and their riding licenses have been suspended for a varied term accordingly. By Usman Rangila

Western India bookies agitated by turn of events at Pune
The Western India-based bookmakers are a harried lot these days and clearly unimpressed by the way things have turned out for them during the current Pune racing season.  By Usman Rangila

Irishman Mark Gallagher finds himself on the receiving end
The Stewards of the Meeting of the Royal Western India Turf Club have held Irish jockey Mark Gallagher guilty of not allowing his mount, Antilles, to run on its merit when it finished runner-up to Strike Zone on October 5. By Usman Rangila

Mallya re-elected
Dr Vijay Mallya was re-elected as the President of the Karnataka Racehorse Owners Association at its annual general body meeting held on Monday. Ashok Raghavan continues as the Secretary. (Sep, 23) By Sharan Kumar

Seabiscuit: An American Legend
Feeling low? Feeling that you could do with a little charging up? Well one always has the solution of Glucon-D for feeling almost immediately energised.... But, if you are really looking at recharging your drained out batteries, "Seabiscuit" is the film you will have to watch! (Sep, 22) By Raviraj K Joshi

Western India bookies close shop after Mysore Race Club declares second race null and void
In a move that seemed both strange and unreasonable, bookmakers in Western India downed their shutters in protest of the decision taken by the Stewards of the Mysore Race Club to declare the second race in the day’s card null and void. By Usman Rangila (Sep 19, 2003)

Zurbaran proves invincible at Hyderabad
Padmanabhan trained Zurbaran who set the track ablaze with an all-India best timing for the mile and half trip (two minutes 28.8 seconds) in the Gr 1 Indian Turf Invitation Cup at Malakpet in February, put his poor runs during the Bangalore Summer Season behind him, to annex the Gr 1 President of India Gold Cup on Sunday in taking style. (Sep 16). By Silver Hawk

Aslam on road to recovery, owes it to RWITC, Pesi and fans
Tragedy seems to have brought jockey Aslam Kader face to face with humility. Contrary to the general belief that Aslam would be critical of the medical attention he received after his fall last Saturday, the erstwhile champ was all praise for the care provided to him by the Royal Western India Turf Club authorities. By Usman Rangila (Sep 14, 2003)

Dallas Todywalla in for a long haul at RWITC
More trouble lies ahead in the coming weeks for trainer Dallas Todywalla as the UK-based Horseracing Forensic Laboratory (HFL) has confirmed the presence. By Usman Rangila (Sep 8, 2003)

RWITC's poor medical facilities stand exposed after Aslam Kader's accident 
Be it actual racing time or the routine morning trackwork schedule, there is always an RWITC ambulance available at their disposal round.. By Usman Rangila (Sep 8, 2003)

Dallas Todywalla in for a long haul at RWITC
Even as trainer Dallas Todywalla is grappling to save his reputation after his winner Music Prospector tested positive for the banned drug substance..  By Usman Rangila (Sep 8, 2003)

Manohar Singh, Hanut Singh punished for Infamous
Jockey Manohar Singh, who was being seen in the saddle astride horses trained by ex-jockey Hanut Singh, has been suspended from till the end of December 31. By Usman Rangila (Sep 8, 2003)

Pradyumna Singh joins Hyderabad Race Club
Mr Pradyumna Singh, who was a senior stipendiary steward at the RWITC, will be joining the Hyderabad Race Club in the same capacity from October 1 this year. By Usman Rangila (Sep 8, 2003)

Jockey Srinath incurs the wrath of RWITC stewards
Close on the heels of the imminent ban that stares in his face at his parent centre, Bangalore-based jockey 
Y.S. Srinath By Usman Rangila (Sep 7, 2003)

Aslam Kader seriously hurt after fall in first race
Jockey Aslam Kader, who was riding the favourite Karishma in the first race today, suffered a bad fall about a furlong away from home and appears to be seriously injured in the accident. By Usman Rangila (Sep 6, 2003)

Ronald’s 7-year suspension fails to impress racing fraternity
The seemingly harsh seven-year suspension meted out to jockey Ronald by the RWITC Stewards of the Club, for his alleged involvement in “dishonest, corrupt, fraudulent and improper practices in the stables,” may be historic but it has apparently failed to impress the racing fraternity one bit. By Usman Rangila (Jul 23, 2003)

DHL Worldwide does a turnaround, claims “destroyed” samples are "intact"
The rapid pace of developments occurring in the case of the two urine samples reportedly destroyed by DHL Worldwide and the tricky consequences entailing them are so fascinating that it can give any Dick Francis’ mystery novel a run for its money. By Usman Rangila (Jul 19, 2003)

RWITC, Dallas Todywalla left high and dry by DHL Worldwide
In a brazen case of sheer negligence, Mumbai-based DHL Worldwide Express has allegedly left the Royal Western India Turf Club in a lurch after reporting to them that their consignment of two confirmatory urine samples was destroyed in London. By Usman Rangila (Jul 12, 2003)

Two more horses from Dallas Todywalla's yard test positive
Even as trainer Dallas Todywalla is grappling to save his reputation after his winner Music Prospector tested positive for the banned drug substance Stanazolol in April this year, the RWITC stipes have informed trainer Dallas Todywalla that two more horses who ran under his charge have tested positive for the same drug. By Usman Rangila (Jul 12, 2003)

Jockeys to be back in action from Friday 
The two-week long strike by the Jockeys finally ended Thursday afternoon, with the Jockeys Association of India unconditionally withdrawing their notice dated June 20.   By Sharan Kumar (Jul 10, 2003)

Jockeys to call off their agitation
Following an assurance from Dr Vijay Mallya that he would ensure a fair settlement for the agitating Jockeys Association of India, the two-week strike will be called off.  By Sharan Kumar (Jul 7, 2003)

Hawke Bay out of Derby contention
Padmanabhan trained Hawke Bay who was expected to be a prime contender for the prestigious Gr 1 Kingfisher Bangalore Derby, has been rendered hors de combat due to a setback in training and will be not in the fray for the plum event. By Sharan Kumar (July 1, 2003)

Jockeys to go on strike
The Bangalore Summer Season has always brewed discontent among professionals. Successive years have seen the jockeys' fraternity raise one issue or other and go on strike. By Sharan Kumar (Jun 24, 2003)

Workshop on handicapping
Workshop on handicapping, Race lovers and handicappers in the garden city will get their first taste of expert handicapping counsel very soon. Turf Solutions, By Sharan Kumar (May 16, 2003)

Small owners need protection
Small owners need protection, Indian racing is going through a slump. There has been general apathy and the time has come, By Sharan Kumar (May 18, 2003)

Astrologica pulls it off in Golconda Derby
Astrologica pulls it off in Golconda Derby, It was a big day for the Kunigal Stud Farm as Astrologica produced a sparkling run in the final furlong to win  Read On

‘I trust Classical Act’
‘I trust Classical Act’ Life can be very strange!  Barely two months ago, on the night of November 24, 2002 to be precise, By Pesi Shroff

Indian Classics: A Statistical Highlight,must for all race lovers
Indian Classics: A Statistical Highlight, must for all race loversThere is no sense of history in race goers in India. The authorities too haven't helped matters, By Sharan Kumar

KROA Cup on Saturday
KROA Cup on Saturday The Karnataka Race Horse Owners Association Trophy will be run on the January 11, 2003. The race is restricted to three year old horses, By Sharan Kumar (Jan 8, 2003)

SURAJ NARREDU - A CHAMPION IN THE MAKING
SURAJ NARREDU---A CHAMPION IN THE MAKING There were 29 jockeys given licenses by the Bangalore Turf Club last season. Out of them, BY CHRISTOPHER HOOVER

China Visit retired to Usha Stud in India
China Visit retired to Usha Stud in India, Group 2 winner and former classic starter China Visit has been retired and will stand his first season at Usha Stud Farm near New Delhi, India, Read On (Jan 22, 2003)