It is time to get on with racing burying all the contentious issues especially at a time when survival of racing itself is in question. The KROA and KTA should allow racing to start as scheduled and suspend their demands till September 22, the day set for closure of racing. All the demands of KTA with regard to incentives can be addressed to by the club if the club survives beyond the date mandated by the High Court to vacate its premises. The club can then pay al the incentives which have been cut with retrospective effect if racing continues to thrive. The race horse owners and trainers should not come in the way of the club preparing to meet all its statutory obligations.

The KROA and KTA are on a war path protesting against cut in stakes and incentives for the summer season stating that the decisions are unwarranted. The club on its part has said their move is a result of the exigencies of circumstances. The club is hoping to accumulate about Rs 3 crores towards its contingency fund by this measure. The turf club generally loses money during the summer season by conduct of racing but makes up the deficit and goes on the surplus only after September when off course betting will be in full swing .

There is one contentious issue that needs to be resolved immediately. That is the three month Basic Training Fee (BTF) credit that is being extended to owners. BTC has now decided to extend only one month BTF credit. In all fairness, BTC should restore the three month BTF credit in order to ensure that racing runs smoothly. They can demand an undertaking from KROA that in the event of a default at the time of closure of racing (if at all this comes about after September 22) to set off the dues from the contingency fund of owners that is lying with the club. This should be a fair measure to sort out the crisis. Ad if the BTC comes up with this measure, the KROA and KTA should accept the same otherwise they will be seen as merely interested in disrupting activities.

There have been a series of meetings to resolve the issue but very little progress has been made. However, importantly the fact that these meetings are taking place between individuals and groups of people who are keener on getting on with racing on the scheduled date itself is a welcome. There is hope that racing may start after all on the scheduled date.

The Labour Department has already written to the club about the steps being taken by it to take care of its statutory obligations in the event of racing shutting down and also measures taken by it if racing were to be re-located. They have asked for clarity with regard to the employees and the safeguards that it intends to take.

Barring the disputing groups, everyone else is keen that racing is not disrupted. The majority of race horse owners and race goers are fervently hoping that wiser counsel prevails paving the way for racing to start. The Bangalore Summer Season is the most eagerly awaited if only because racing elsewhere is suspended due to the scorching heat. All India interest is riveted on the Bangalore Season. The classics are keenly contested and have proved to be a definite pointer to the classics held in monsoon and in winter. More than 40 outstation horses have arrived for the season.

Pesi Shroff has brought quite a few promising horses for the summer campaign. The champion trainer from Mumbai has always enjoyed a fruitful season in Bangalore and he has never returned empty handed. He had Set Alight winning the Derby two years ago and last year the all conquering filly Jacqueline just about missed winning the coveted event by a whisker. Among his lot of horses, Sunset Boulevard is said to be the most promising one. Cooji Katrak trained Moonlight Romance has the makings of being a top notch contender for the Fillies Trial Stakes.

Among the local hopes, the horse which has impressed most is Foreign Exchange. The well bred son of Alnasr Alwasheek made a smashing winning debut and if he trains on well, he could be the one who can dominate the summer classics. For the record, Awarding is the highest rated three-year old in Bangalore.