Calcutta: Now that hotheads have cooled down, the city horseracing will soon -- in a fortnight’s time --  get underway. Good sense has prevailed after numerous meetings between the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) stewards, trainers and the striking stable hands had failed to stitch together a congenial atmosphere of give and take for the continuation of the sport, that came to a halt on February 8.
    The striking syces and working hands had a point. They had accepted a 30 percent salary cut – from April 2020 onwards because of the pandemic conditions. However, the status quo was to be restored from January 2021. They, obviously, raised the alarm on January 7, when the salary packet was again found to be 30 percent short. Their protests fell to deaf ears, and thus the cease of work from the very next day.
     Horse owners and trainers were the chief sufferers for about eighteen days as the stable workers stopped attending horses for the in-house rollings and morning exercises. Some of the striking hands were somewhat humane and they continued to feed their charges, and nothing more.
    Trainers and horse-owners had appealed and made requests to the striking workers, explaining horses, particularly thoroughbreds, suffer catastrophic health if they are kept confined and denied exercises. ......they are very prone to developing life-threatening ailments such as colic, laminitis and other disabilities..... They also told them that their actions are a complete violation of the prevention of cruelties...
    Thursday’s meeting broke the ice. Now the syces' Society and Unions have agreed to resume duties as modalities for their dues will be worked out in the next three days. Horses will be attended, rolled and taken out for the morning exercises. Live racing is likely to resume in a fortnight’s time, and RCTC has, apparently, promised trainers that all remaining fixtures will be gone through. It means the remaining racing season will be extended well into April 2021.
     Finally, there is no official communication. Phone calls made to the senior RCTC officials are going unanswered. The stable workforce is, however, exchanging greetings with the victory signs, broad smiles return on faces of trainers and horseowners while racegoers are obviously happy.

Friday Chennai selections

2pm: Merrywin 1. Amazing Kitten 2. Three Of A Kind 3.
2.30pm: Welcome Winner 1. Hadar 2. Golden Streak 3. 
3pm: Shield Maiden 1. Oberon 2. Nagada 3.
3.30pm: Decisive 1. Lady Ascot 2. Ganton 3.
4pm: My Triumph 1. Coup De Etait 2. Turf Beauty 3. 
4.30pm: Nekhbet 1. Breaking Bounds 2. Roman Senator 3.
5pm: Royal Dreams 1. Glorious Sunshine 2. Fun Storm 3. 
5.30pm: Atacama 1. Fabulous Show 2. Glorious Nissy 3. 
Day’s Best: My Triumph Double: Nekhbet & Royal Dreams.