Calcutta: The laying of the monsoon track, paddocks, saddling enclosure and the pathway leading to the race track, points to the Royal Calcutta Turf Club’s (RCTC) silent efforts to start the much awaited monsoon racing season. The start of the wet season, normally, commences by the first week of July but we are already touching August. Yet, there is no official communication from the Club’s side, leaving the local horse trainers, owners, jockeys and stable hands a frustrated lot.
The regular exodus of horses from the RCTC’s leading lights to the southern and western turf centers adds to speculations that the ‘wet season’ is not likely to happen in a hurry. Add to this, the tough attitude of the workers’ unions towards attempts to dissolve an age old ‘Society’ – Race Horse Stable Employees Welfare Society (RHSEWS) – that caters to their needs – salaries, provident funds and employees state insurance schemes – is being strongly resisted. “We will not allow this thing to happen:” said K.K. Srivastava, president, RCTC Karmachari Union (RKC).
However, Sivaji Dutt, Ceo, RCTC, is all positive about the start of the monsoon season. He said: “We are late but just wait for another couple of weeks. The season will start soon.”
Finally, an RCTC insider was, however, absolutely sure that the monsoon season will kick off by the month end.