RWITC stewards demonstrate no fear or favour in latest verdict - By Usman Rangeela I Mumbai Mirror
Posted on - 08 Jan 2013
RWITC stewards demonstrate no fear or favour in latest verdict
By Usman Rangeela
Mumbai Mirror
Given the kind of negative perception the racing fraternity carries in its mind about the manner in which RWITC stewards have dealt with matters of discipline over the years, the current body’s decision to impose a three-month riding ban on jockey Suraj Narredu suggests that change is around the corner.
Subjective as these decisions are, the latest one too is bound to attract both criticism and acclaim depending on which side of the fence it’s being viewed. It’s likely that one set of critics will shed tears terming the punishment as too harsh on the jockey, the other would cry hoarse believing he got away lightly and there also will be a certain section which will express satisfaction. It’s this intense scrutiny which their decisions are subjected to which makes the stewards’ job unenviable.
Regardless, there is no doubt that the significance of this judgment will not be lost on the racing fraternity. For once, the message from the stewards’ room came loud and clear that the stewards are prepared to take decisions without fear or favour and professionals trying to mess with the integrity of the sport will not be spared no matter how mighty or influential be their connections.
Not a bad start for the new set of stewards, who’ve assumed office recently, and the club which has been grappling with an image crisis for long. What’s expected now from the stewards, of course, is a show of consistency in their zero-tolerance attitude towards habitual offenders.
COURTING TROUBLE
Suraj Narredu is currently one of the most successful and sought-after jockey on the Indian horse-racing circuit and currently retained for Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan headed Wadhawan Livestock Pvt. Ltd. Suraj, incidentally, was found courting trouble after his loss astride Ice Cool last Thursday.
At first glance, it appeared that Suraj had erred in judging the pace which, interestingly, he himself chose to set. But the stipendiary stewards, on close scrutiny, disproved this theory and determined that the jockey’s move to break into a long lead was ill-conceived and lacked the desire to win the race.
The honorary stewards also felt that a jockey of Suraj’s calibre ought to have judged the pace much better and not taken the long lead which ultimately led to the favourite’s downfall. Suraj, eventually, was held guilty of ‘not allowing his mount to run on its merit’, a serious offence according to the club’s rules.
Brushing aside speculations of him being let off lightly, the stewards decided to suspend Suraj till the current Mumbai season concludes in April for which he should consider himself lucky. It was K N Dhunjibhoy’s, who chaired the proceedings in the absence of Shyam Ruia, casting vote which saved Suraj from being suspended till end of October.
LEARNING LESSONS
If Suraj doesn’t get any reprieve from the Board of Appeal, he could miss major events including the Indian Derby. Apprentice Tushar Nemane is also on the verge of being banished and it’s going to be very hard on them both to stay away from the saddle for so long.
However, there’s a lesson for other budding jockeys to be learnt from their predicament: the lure of the lucre can snuff out many a promising career.
