The trainers based in Bangalore surrendered their license on Friday in support of their demands causing a piquant situation. With technically there being no trainers, who will pay the salaries of syces which falls due in the first week of May? The Bangalore Turf Club obviously cannot release BTF to any one else. Syces have to be paid by trainers because it is they who have employed them. The first entries for May 15th races falls next Monday and if there are no entries, then the first two days racing also has to be cancelled because currently there are no trainers under BTC Rules of Racing.

Can the trainers act so callously by handing out the piece of paper which gives them identity? Can the professionals themselves hurt the image of the sport by frequent squabbling when the existence of the sport itself is in question? What sort of a message are they trying to convey? Can they hope to get their demands met by pressuring the authorities when they very well know that the Chairman is out of the country and others may or may not be willing to take the lead? Can they be so dogmatic at the expense of the sport and care a damn to the interests of the owners who have entrusted their horses to them?

President of Karnataka Trainers Association B Puttanna is not man you associate as a person who is always confronting authority. He is a reasonable man and always not wanting to disrupt any activity. Unfortunately, he has been a victim of circumstances and he is seen as leading the agitation of the trainers for the last few years.
When asked for the provocation, Puttanna said: ``More often than not, not all race horse owners have money in their account and as a result, the three month credit that BTC gives helps in running the show. But the BTC has now decided to extend only one month credit and have also refused to undertake to pay stable rent for two-year olds located at Lumbini Stud Farm stating that when the survival of racing itself is under question after September 22 this year, how can they take care of two-year olds which come to racing long after the closure of racing in Bangalore as there is no guarantee that BTC will get reprieve either in the court or with the government.

`` I think the other demands raised are minor ones. If the BTC concedes to the demand of three month BTF like before and continues the deduction of stake money for purpose of running the benevolent funds under various heads, there should be no problem in sorting out the other issues. If the main contentious issues are resolved, then we are prepared for give and take,`` added Puttanna.

The BTC is facing the heat of a possible closure of its operations and hence making efforts to meet its statutory obligations. It must be conceded that whenever BTC`s revenue went up, they kept increasing the stake money. And because of the extraordinary situation, the professionals and owners should be prepared for a cut in the income. However, there is an argument that BTC should strip its members of their facilities, close the club house and Bangalore Amateur Riders Institute to shore up its resources instead of cutting the stake money. BTC has to augment its resources by cutting stake money and stop all unnecessary expenditure in order to plan for the future. The members of the club too should be prepared for forgoing certain privileges.

Considering the present crisis that is confronting the sport in Bangalore, there is need for restraint from all parties involved.