15 September,2009 12:48 PM IST | | Rajeev Tyagi
Betting on race horses coming to nearby mall, online; Delhi Race Club plans revival of the equestrian sport
Soon your money will get multiplied on the hoofs of thoroughbreds while you are shopping for a pair of shoes or trousers at a nearby store.
If the Delhi Race Club has its way, betting will be outsourced to utility stores, malls as well as promoted online to attract youth and purge the sport that is inextricably associated with gambling.
"Contrary to popular perception horse racing is not just about gambling. Breaking this stereotype is our topmost priority," said PS Bedi, newly-elected president of the Delhi Race Club.
Youth are high on the agenda of the club chief who wants to revive the sport hit by decreasing patrons and most recently swine flu.
"We want the youth to come forward and enjoy it is like just another sport. Even the Supreme Court has defined it as a skilled sport activity," Bedi, a Padmashree awardee, added.
This year the club incurred losses worth Rs 1.5 crore on account of the flu scare. Not just the number of racing enthusiasts fell drastically the bets have also touched Nadir.
Bedi, who will be holding the top post for the second consecutive term, has revival plans in place, now.
The club, with total 350 horses, is already in talks with corporate houses to sponsor big races and events. "It will also help us add the required glamour and glitz," Bedi said. The club administration is trying to improve bloodstock quality by framing million and multimillion races for young stocks as well as enhancing Stake Money for the North India Derby and other Classic Races by roping in reputed sponsors.
Efforts are also afoot to engage breeders to raise thoroughbreds and raise the number of races and horses.
The club, situated opposite Prime Minister's 7 Race Course residence, is also hunting for a alternative place to shift.
However, they are yet to find a place as it will require huge space to accommodate the animals and organise the events.
'No Racing for us'
Organised groups dedicated to protecting animals, such as the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, target some horse sports with claims of animal cruelty. Horse racing and rodeo are most commonly targeted,due both to their high visibility and to the level of stress and potential physical dangers to the equines involved. Some people may consider poor living conditions abusive, while others might consider riding abusive in and of itself.
In 2009, animal rights group PETA released undercover video of alleged abuses of former race horses at a slaughterhouse in Kumamoto, Japan. The group states that 20,000 horses, including former Thoroughbred race horses, were killed in 2008 in Japan for use as human and pet food.
