On Sunday, 1st March of 2020, Mysore Race Club (MRC)  Limited conducted the prestigious The Indian Turf Invitation Cup-2020 for the first time and created history in its over 100 years of racing in city. First under royal patronage and later, after independence of the country, under the initiative of local lovers of ‘horse flesh’, with lot of horse-sense! 

Rightly they were remembered and inducted into the “Hall of Fame” posthumously at a function held the previous evening at the MRC Club House. They are Mr. S.V. Subramaniam, Mr. Farrokh K. Irani and Sardar K.B. Ramachandra Raje Urs. Of these three, except Mr. Subramaniam, the other two I personally knew rather well. As Mr. Farrokh Irani’s name was announced and later his son Mr. Raian Irani spoke about his father, I remembered an incident when Mr. F.K. Irani quit as Chairman of MRC after being in that office continuously for 13 long years. Reporting the news in Star of Mysore as its lead, I gave the banner headline, “King abdicates” across the tabloid. That evening I got a telephone call from Farrokh appreciating the coverage but more about the headline. ‘How do you know my middle name is King?’ he asked. That was news for me. How can an Iranian name have an english word! Both did not pursue the subject further and he put the phone down with his expected last words — “I am in Sports Club, come and join me for a drink.” That indeed was Farrokh the King. Let it be.

It was very thoughtful of the MRC Managing Committee headed by its Chairman Dr. N. Nithyanand Rao, to have decided to award and honour five leading performers on the Indian Turf during the year 2018-19, chosen Oscar-style “…and the winner is…!” As for other five who were honoured for their long-association and service to MRC, there were two from our city — Mr. C. Seshachalam and K.G. Anantharaj Urs. Ananth has been the Secretary of MRC for decades, then Secretary General of Turf Authorities of India and now Chief Stipendiary Steward of MRC.

He is the one who knows the nitty-gritty of racing and its multiple aspects and specialisation — specially Racing Administration. His networking among the racing fraternity all over the world is incredible. I had personal experiences of this hidden quality of Anantharaj Urs when he took me to the Tokyo Race Course while we were there on a Rotary Club tour. The joke is, many Chairmen and Committee Members would find themselves at large without Ananth’s guiding hand or words to steer through their responsibilities.

Another history too was created at the Turf Invitation Cup Race on 1st March 2020 at MRC. That was when Adjudicate won the Invitation Cup with Jockey Y.S. Srinath astride for the second time successively.  Apart from winning, it also created history by being the only horse above the classic age (more than 3 years old) to win the Invitation Cup. Well, Adjudicate richly deserved the kiss that was planted on its muzzle by its owner Amitabh Nanda which we saw in newspapers. So Adjudicate created a second history for itself on that day. 

A third history also would have been created for the MRC a month before the Turf Invitation Cup races by getting the land lease renewed for 30 years but sadly it was not to be. 

I am referring to the Extraordinary General Body Meeting (EGM) of the MRC held on Friday, 14th February, 2020, to seek permission to increase the number of members from the present 250 to 300 by bringing in 50 members without the set procedure of election but by nomination. The Government of Karnataka was willing to renew the lease of MRC land, which is under a short-leash now, for another 30 long years. The whole hell broke loose in that meeting. Paradoxically, among those who spoke against the proposal are some members who had earlier in May 2019, when G. Venkatesh was Chairman, in an effort at renewing the lease (not for 30 years as under the present Managing Committee headed by Dr. N. Nithyanand Rao, but for a mere 10 years) had in a preposterous offer agreed to take 250 new members under categories unimaginable and suicidal for the MRC — in five categories where there will be no selection process only for the 50 Government nominees. Thank God the EGM threw out this proposal. 

In comparison, the proposals brought before the EGM held on 14th February, 2020 was, though not fool-proof or perfect, could have been accepted with some changes and amendments considering the lease offer was for 30-long years and the intake of new members is only 50 to be shared with the Government. 

And if only one read the Government order (in Kannada), it was clear that the final Draft Agreement was to be okayed by the Government. Here we could have considered incorporating the suggestions made by Chaduranga Kantharaj Urs, G.K. Balakrishna and others, including the issue related to JWGC (Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club). I am sure, MRC could further negotiate with the present BJP Government, which is more reasonable and positive in its response to the terms and conditions of the lease agreement than the earlier Congress and JD(S) governments. 

US President Kennedy had famously once said, ‘You get in life what you negotiate for and do not procrastinate   taking a decision, for you may lose all.’

At present MRC’s lease is lapsed and it is on ‘ventilator’ as one speaker said in EGM. So, how then the racing, both off-course and on-course, are going on? Well, once in three months, like one speaker said in the EGM, MRC official goes to the Government official, waits on him like an accused in the Police Station, to get the    licence to run the race after paying a small licence fee.

As we know, we are living in an uncertain period of governance with different Governments with their own agenda. There are some MLAs and Ministers who want the present land of MRC to be taken over, ostensibly, for extending the adjacent Zoo or for a Botanical Garden. Whatever it is, this land being the Government land can be taken back. However, if the lease is for 30 years it is a comfortable period and cannot be taken back except when the terms and conditions of the lease is violated and there is also a legal cover of Law Courts to ward off Government’s arbitrariness. 

Therefore, wisdom lies in calling one more EGM, as suggested earlier by a senior member, Chaduranga Kantharaj Urs, and take the draft lease deed agreement, as per Government’s order, with amendments or deletions as suggested by some members in the last EGM held on 14.2.2020.

Be that as it may, there is no denying the fact that Dr. Nithyanand Rao has created a third history, in addition to what I mentioned earlier, for himself by successfully conducting the Indian Turf Invitation Cup 2020. This, despite challenges of providing new infrastructure at heavy cost and getting full cooperation from all the members of  the Turf Authorities of India and specially from his own team of Committee Members and Stewards under trying circumstances. As insiders know, Dr. Nithyanand Rao came to occupy the Chair under tough competition, some reneging on their words of honour while some casting doubt on his ability to conduct the Turf Invitation Cup 2020. All these apprehensions were belied and Dr. Nithyanand Rao has accomplished his Mission 2020 in a grand, enviable manner. Congratulations Chairman, MRC, Dr. Nithyanand Rao, MS, Ortho.

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