MAHINDAR SINGH RATHORE

  MYSORE RACE CLUB'S CONTROVERSIAL APPOINTMENT:  The recent appointment of S. Ravi Shanker as Stipendiary Steward by the Mysore Race Club has already sparked intense debate within racing circles. At a time when Indian horse racing is desperately trying to rebuild public confidence, the Mysore Race Club's decision to appoint an official whose tenure has frequently attracted criticism from sections of the racing fraternity raises serious questions. For years, racegoers, owners, punters and industry stakeholders have voiced concerns about inconsistent stewarding, questionable inquiries, lack of transparency and the apparent inability of racing authorities to convincingly address controversial rides and running patterns. Whether justified or not, these perceptions have contributed significantly to the growing distrust that surrounds the sport today. The question therefore is simple: Can an official associated in the minds of many racegoers with a period of declining confiden...

  BANGALORE'S DISTURBING TREND: 60.75% FAVOURITES DEFEATED – WHO WILL STOP THIS ROT? The Bangalore Summer Meeting 2026 has thrown up a statistic that should send alarm bells ringing across the racing fraternity. Out of the 79 races conducted so far, including today's races, only 31 favourites have justified public confidence. A staggering 48 favourites have been beaten. That translates to a shocking 60.75% failure rate for favourites. While horse racing is inherently uncertain and favourites are not expected to win every race, when nearly two-thirds of market leaders consistently fail, serious questions need to be asked. The first casualty of such a trend is public confidence. The average racegoer studies form, follows track reports, analyses speed ratings, observes betting trends and eventually places faith in a horse that the market collectively identifies as the most likely winner. When favourites repeatedly fail at such an alarming rate, punters begin to feel that the game ...

  THE “CURSE” OF THE BANGALORE RACECOURSE! For decades, the sprawling expanse of the Bangalore Racecourse has been more than just turf, thunder and tradition. It has been Karnataka’s sporting heartbeat, a historic institution woven into the cultural and economic fabric of Bengaluru. Yet, every time a political establishment has attempted to target the Bangalore Turf Club or lay hands on the prized racecourse land, history appears to have scripted a dramatic political downfall. Now comes the latest political storm. Reports emerging from power corridors suggest that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has informed his cabinet colleagues of his intention to step down, triggering a fresh wave of speculation across Karnataka politics. Coincidence? Perhaps. But racing circles are whispering something else: “The curse of the Bangalore Racecourse continues.” The pattern is too chilling to ignore. Every Chief Minister who aggressively pursued plans against the Bangalore Turf Club, questioned ...

  LOGIC TAKES A BEATING AS SUNSHINE’S FORM COLLAPSE DEFIES ALL RACING SENSE Indian racing has always thrived on uncertainty. Upsets are part of the sport, and that unpredictability is what keeps punters returning to the windows. But there are occasions when the formbook is not merely turned upside down — it is torn to shreds. What unfolded involving SUNSHINE and EFFICACY falls squarely into that disturbing category. Let us revisit the facts. During the Bangalore Summer Season of 2025, on 31st May, SUNSHINE, while receiving 1.5 kilos, defeated EFFICACY by an authoritative margin of three lengths. There was no ambiguity in that result. SUNSHINE proved clearly superior on the day. Fast forward to 10th May 2026. EFFICACY contested and won a competitive 60-85 event while racing off a rating of 70. Following that victory, the horse has now surged to a rating of 84, placing it firmly among the better performed horses in training. Now comes the baffling part. On the very same day, S...

PUNTERS LEFT REELING AS SHOCK RESULTS ROCK SECOND WEEK OF BANGALORE SUMMER SEASON 2026 The second weekend of the Bangalore Summer Season turned into a graveyard for punters, with fancied runners falling like nine pins and confidence in the ring taking a severe beating. Out of the 12 races conducted over the weekend, only four favourites managed to justify support and even amongst those, merely Siege Storm and Efficacy returned at respectable betting odds, while Final Call and Refined Aggression were sent off at prohibitive prices, offering little consolation to the battered racing fraternity. However, beyond the statistics and the upset results lies a far more disturbing narrative — the questionable and suspicious performances of certain heavily supported runners whose efforts simply do not pass the eye test. The runs of Alamgir, Sunshine and Valiant Stream scream for immediate scrutiny and demand a serious explanation from the authorities. Alamgir, who had shaped attractively and was ...

  Bangalore Summer Season Set to Ignite on May Day The much-awaited Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) Summer Season 2026 is all set to spring to life on May Day , with Chairman Shivashankar confirming that preparations are in full swing despite earlier concerns. The professionals at the Bengaluru centre are leaving no stone unturned, working overtime to ensure their wards are race-fit for the curtain-raiser. While the track is currently a trifle on the harder side, BTC officials are confident it will be in perfect racing condition before the starter dispatches the field for the opening event on Friday, May 1 , expected to be run under testing conditions. “After conducting a dozen mock races — six each on Friday and Saturday — the feedback from trainers and jockeys has been encouraging,” revealed Shivashankar. “Yes, the track is on the harder side, but a couple of good showers will bring it to optimum condition.” In a proactive move, the club has deployed 10–15 water tankers daily t...