Feroz Khan lashes out at BTC

As a member myself, I would like to take up the matter of getting the owners back as Stewards and also for broad-basing the membership. I believe that the present strength of 350 should be increased by at least another 200.”

It may be recalled that one of the horses owned by him — Winning Brave — who had won in the races held on Sunday, was relegated to second place following a “frivolous” objection.

Winning Brave had won at the expense of favourite Go With The Wind, whose jockey, Mallesh Narredu, raised an objection against jockey Appu of Winning Brave, stating that the winner had continuously bored in the last 200m and took him out, which cost him race.

Khan, who played the tape to the media persons, pointed out that the two horses never raced parallel to each other for “boring” to take place.“Narredu had problems in keeping his mount on a straight course as his horse was lugging in and going behind the hind of the front-running Winning Brave.

My horse was always well clear of the favourite and at no point of the stage has Narredu stopped riding. Unfortunately, the Stewards upheld an objection which they have thrown time and again without much hesitation. I am pained by the manner in which the decision was taken by a set of people whose racing knowledge is next to nothing.”

Khan said he may resort to court case. “I am consulting legal opinion besides taking the matter at the appropriate level at the government. BTC is unfortunately increasingly catering to vested interests which will drive away all the sporting owners from racing. Something should be done before it goes out of hand,” he thundered.

“I am not against individuals but against the system,” he said. “Racing is not one man’s kingdom. I felt sick by the manner in which the Stewards having been handling the club, jumping from one bad decision to another. The year has been one of discontent, with strikes by jockeys, trainers and even bookies contributing to fouling the atmosphere,” he pointed out.