The Bangalore Turf Club may well take the services of astrologers to predict the start of the Bangalore Summer Season in future as year after year, the start of the season has been jinxed. Ever since there was change in the composition of office bearers of the owners association in the last decade, strikes have been par for every season and invariably the first two days have been sacrificed before any sort of compromise is struck. The turf club as such has been unable to get its start right.

Thus it is better for the club to bring in astrologers. Since they have failed to get any reprieve in the court, they should find out if there is going to be any divine intervention! Who can do this job much better than astrologers who can be asked if the club can survive beyond September 22 which is the date when the club is supposed to vacate its premises with nowhere to go as per High Court’s mandate. If the answer is in the affirmative, then they may employ the same person for all their future actions like fixing the opening and closing days of the season and take all other advice about what the stars foretell about its future. When reason and intellect fails, may be such a measure may have some merit!

The authority is virtually non-existent and under such circumstances, the club is being dragged in different directions and if it collapses due to these contradictions, it may not be a surprise. The sport has been continuously losing out on the goodwill as nobody seems to be happy. The authority is powerless, the professionals and owners disgruntled, the employees frustrated and race goers unhappy the way things turn out for them. And to add to the woes, the chairman of the club is also out of the country for a very long period especially during the time of strife. The club has not taken any legal steps to file an SLP in the Supreme Court nor has it initiated dialogue with the Chief Minister and is found wanting on all fronts. A distressing scenario indeed.

The postponement of final entries to Wednesday due to Monday being declared a office holiday has given an opportunity for owners and trainers to take a fresh look at their stand. The trainers haven’t put their entries for the first two day’s racing thus far and in normal circumstances, the races would have been cancelled. The authorities are firm in enforcing their will and they assert there is no change in their stand. Unless there is a climb down by the trainers and owners, the start of the season may well be affected.

Acting Chairman of Bangalore Turf Club Lokesh said: ''There is no change in club’s stance. We cannot be expected to be cowed down by agitations. We want races to start. Dialogue and negotiation can come afterwards in conducive atmosphere.’’.