The jockeys were at their wits end not knowing what to do under the circumstances. With neither the owners association nor the turf club calling them for negotiations, there was little hope left for them and they were in danger of sitting out not only during the Derby week-end but also for the rest of the season if they persisted in their hopeless pursuit.
They were looking for an honorable way of calling off their strike. With Dr Vijay Mallya assuring them that he would do his best to ensure them a fair deal, the JAI decided to call of the strike.
However, there was one hitch. The Jockeys Association of India did not unconditionally withdraw their notice of June 20. Their letter informing that they were calling off their agitation following the assurance of Dr Mallya, found no acceptance with the Stewards as the jockeys had not stated that they were withdrawing their agitation unconditionally. The jockeys who saw the writing on the wall, had no other go but to resign to their fate and do as they were told.
File Photo: Pesi Shroff
& Sinclair Marshall (From right)
The jockeys turned up for work Thursday morning but they were not allowed inside the race course as the club had not withdrawn the advisory, asking the jockeys to keep off the premises of the club during the strike. The Stewards who met Thursday morning, considered the letter from JAI and once again asked the jockeys to write a letter, unconditionally withdrawing their strike and not to couch the letter in verbosity. This was done after much deliberation by the jockeys by Thursday afternoon following which the Stewards permitted the jockeys to come inside.