The Bangalore Turf Club which had been kept on tenterhooks by the government could heave a sigh of relief only on Sunday night as the license for conducting racing and betting on other centers was inordinately delayed. The club had not made any announcement with regard to conduct of off course betting on Hyderabad races scheduled for Monday, February 1. Interestingly, the government had issued license to Mysore Race Club license for conducting racing activity for the month of February while withholding the same for BTC till Sunday night.

The Bangalore Turf Club is a divided house, with the forces dragging the club in different directions much to the detriment of the sport. Time and again, BTC has found itself in troubled waters though the only plus point is that it has acted better under crisis. The present fight with the government has come about because of the hard-line taken by the club, with the Managing Committee being a divided house. While the majority in the committee had passed a resolution to sign the lease deed with the government, the special general body meeting of the club had advocated taking a tough stand and take on the government in the court of law. There is a belief in the club that the government may give license for conduct of on course betting and at the same time bleed the club economically by not giving license for conduct of off course betting on racing held elsewhere in the country. The lifeline of all the clubs in the country is the income generated on conduct of off course betting.

It may be recalled that Hon`ble Justice A Gunjal had ordered status quo to be maintained with regard to Bangalore Turf Club`s writ petition till February 10. The Government of Karnataka has refused to renew the lease of land for the BTC premises which expired on December 31, 2009 and the club had approached the High Court for relief stating that the land was in possession of the club for over 100 years under a grant for the exclusive purpose of conducting racing activities. The club also highlighted the crippling economic impact that the government`s move would have on the racing industry. and that the government should not evict them till an alternative land is found and infrastructure built.

Justice A Gunjal in his interim order given on Thursday had said that whether the petitions are entitled for the relief sought for in the writ petition was required to be considered when the matter was taken up for final disposal. As an interim measure, the following order was passed:

a) The Petitions are directed to file an affidavit as to the time duration, which is required by them to shift the racing activities to some other area. But however, that shall not depend on the land to be granted by the State.

b) The petitioners shall get themselves impleaded in the PIL in W.P No 31200/2009 and seek necessary and appropriate relief to show their bonafides and anxiety in shifting the racing activities to some other area.

c) The Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Government of Karnataka shall consider the applications filed by the petitioners for renewal of their .betting license more so having regard to the racing calendar already published by the petitioners.

d) The interim measure shall not clothe the petitioners to remain in the existing premises for all time to come.