HORSE RACING - Zavaray promises `clean racing
Posted on - 09 Dec 2015
HORSE RACING - Zavaray promises `clean racing'
-By Shailendra Awasthi
Times of India
Zavaray Poonawalla, chairman of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), who has won the title rights for the Evening Racing, acknowledges that punters have lost faith in the fair conduct of racing in Western India and says that it will be his priority to ensure their faith and confidence is restored.
“Clean racing is the need of the hour,“ said Zavaray while talking to TOI recently . “Professionals shall be informed sooner rather than later that strict action will be implemented. Once it is visualized that no nonsense will be accepted, then gradually malpractices will start reducing,“ felt one of the top breeders in the country having won the leading breeders award 11 times.
Talking about Evening Racing title rights, the 72-year-old said that he has `walked the talk' on the issue. “I am naturally delighted as I was a huge supporter of this project right from the start. Unlike others who sought to stonewall the offer, I have walked the talk and not only sponsored a day last year, but also voluntarily bid for, and won, the title rights. We shall do our best to ensure it succeeds.“
Interestingly, Zavaray's bid was turned down by some in the committee saying that it could be undervalued and wanted to invite bids for the same. When the tenders were closed on December 1, only one offer was received and that too from Zavaray for Rs 1.15 crore. The bid was eventually accepted.
“The original bid set the benchmark, and as no offer was received, proved that it was bonafide and vindicated the fairness of the bid. I am surprised some on the committee still state that it is undervalued and ought not to be accepted, without saying what it should be and in spite of the fact that it helps to plug the projected loss on this endeavour“ said RWITC marketing chief Vivek Jain.
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