The final day of the 2025 Madras Race Club season trotted to a close on Sunday—though "final" might be the operative word here. The government, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that horse racing is far less important than, say, a few extra flower beds, terminating the club`s lease and handing over the premises to the Horticulture Department. A magnanimous gesture indeed! But fear not, racing enthusiasts, for the powers that be have graciously dangled the carrot of a new Greenfield racecourse in Hosur. Of course, whether racing will be permitted for another season at its current location remains as clear as a foggy winter morning. The club authorities, meanwhile, will have to summon every ounce of persuasive charm—perhaps even divine intervention—to extract concessions from a government that seems about as flexible as a brick wall.

Unlike their counterparts at Bangalore Turf Club, who have been cosseted with government indulgence despite ignoring every recommendation thrown at them—like broad basing membership and agreeing to shift the racecourse—the folks at Madras Race Club learned the hard way that a 20-year lease means absolutely nothing when the government decides it wants your playground. Let`s not forget that the club also lost possession of the Ooty racecourse last year. A cautionary tale, perhaps, for those at Bangalore Turf Club who still think they can out-stubborn the government when the land, license, and just about everything else belong to the state.

And now, to Bangalore Turf Club, where the drama unfolds with all the finesse of a badly written soap opera. A Special General Body Meeting has been called to vote on a series of resolutions—broad basing membership, increasing membership fees, and deciding on the long-avoided racecourse shift to Kunigal. These resolutions, thoughtfully drafted by a committee of senior members, seemed like they would pass without much fuss—especially after the harsh reality check suffered by Madras Race Club. After all, even the Supreme Court shrugged off the Ooty dispute, given that the lease had expired ages ago. Bangalore Turf Club, too, is merrily running its operations without a lease, surviving on what can only be described as government goodwill. But let`s be real—how long can one bank on that?

Now, for the pièce de resistance: a rebellious faction of BTC members reportedly have decided to play spoiler. Leading the charge is none other than Uday Eswaran, whose claim to fame was being handpicked by the government to play the role of chairman a few years ago and making him a member of the ad hoc committee last year. And now, in a plot twist no one asked for, he`s biting the very hand that fed him. Of course, he`s not alone—there are the usual suspects, a band of "trouble-shooters" who seem to revel in making life difficult, blissfully unaware that their antics could sink the very sport they claim to care about. They have no real stake in racing, but boy, do they love a good ego battle.

Meanwhile, the Managing Committee is practically on bended knee, urging members to vote for the resolutions before the whole thing goes up in smoke. BTC has been handed more lifelines than a reality show contestant, but the real question is—will they push their luck yet again to see if the government is just bluffing, or finally serious about pulling the plug?

By Monday night, we`ll know whether common sense has made a rare appearance or if racing will be thrown into chaos once again. And if the resolutions are shot down? Well, April 1 may bring more than just April Fool`s jokes—it might be the day the government pulls the rug out from under Bangalore Turf Club. Stay tuned.