A LEADERSHIP VACUUM AT BANGALORE TURF CLUB

Racing Administration Drifts as BTC Fails to Find a Chief Stipendiary Steward**

The Bangalore Turf Club (BTC), one of India’s premier racing institutions, finds itself in an extraordinary and worrying administrative vacuum. With the resignation of former Chief Stipendiary Steward Ravi Shanker in the aftermath of the now-infamous jockey slap scandal, the club has been left without a qualified, empowered, and widely accepted head of racing administration — a situation that threatens the integrity and smooth functioning of the sport in Bengaluru.

A Crisis Without a Captain

The role of the Chief Stipendiary Steward is central to race-day governance:

• supervising running and riding of races,

• enforcing discipline,

• ensuring rule compliance,

• maintaining fairness and transparency,

• and commanding authority in the stewards’ room.

Today, that chair sits empty.

Despite being one of the country’s most resourceful race clubs, BTC has no full-time stipendiary head at a time when scrutiny on racing operations is at its highest. With constant pressure from the state government and warnings over land and licensing issues, the last thing the club can afford is uncertainty at the heart of its regulatory machinery.

The Ghost of Administrators Past

In the absence of suitable applicants, the name of T.S. Mahendar — a former BTC official who was expelled earlier — is once again doing the rounds in racing circles. Sources within and around the club say that the “desperation for administrative stability” has triggered murmurs of a possible reconsideration.

While there is no official confirmation, the resurfacing of an expelled official’s name itself highlights the sheer shortage of credible candidates and the level of administrative drift prevailing at the club.

Recruitment Efforts Fall Flat

BTC’s attempt to fill the position has, so far, been a near-failure:

• The first recruitment notice reportedly drew just one application, shocking for an institution of such stature.

• After the new managing committee took charge, a fresh advertisement was issued — but the response remains unclear, with insiders suggesting that the turnout is again underwhelming.

Many experienced racing professionals, former stipendiaries, and officials appear reluctant to work under the current climate of scrutiny, factional politics, and unstable club governance.

A Sport That Cannot Run on Autopilot

Horse racing is not a sport where administration can run on an “ad-hoc” mode. With over:

• complex race-day protocols,

• stewards’ inquiries,

• security requirements,

• jockey monitoring,

• medication control, and

• continuous rule enforcement,

the absence of a strong and credible Stipendiary Steward undermines the very spine of racing integrity.

Stakeholders — owners, trainers, punters, and racing enthusiasts — are already expressing apprehension. A club of BTC’s legacy cannot allow a regulatory vacuum to persist for long without risking long-term damage to its reputation and the confidence of the racing public.

BTC Must Restore Stability — Urgently

The club’s managing committee must act with urgency and clarity. Whether through attracting qualified professionals from outside the state, recalling experienced stewards, or restructuring the administration to make the position more viable, decisive action is non-negotiable.

For a club navigating political pressure, land disputes, and operational uncertainty, a stable racing administration is not a luxury — it is a survival requirement.

Until a firm hand once again occupies the steward’s chair, Bangalore racing will continue to function under a cloud of doubt, risking both credibility and continuity.