Karnataka likely to ban horse racing

After banning sale of lottery and arrack, the Karnataka Government is now seriously considering a proposal to ban horse racing in the State.

During a discussion on the functioning of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) in the Legislative Council, Minister for Planning and Lottery Ramachandra Gowda said the coalition Government in Karnataka, which had recently banned lottery and arrack, was equally determined to ban horse racing.

The Government had not hesitated to ban lottery, which was fetching a revenue of Rs 2.5 billion every year to the Government. “The revenue collected from horse racing is just peanuts”, he remarked.

Gowda’s disclosure on the Government’s proposal to ban horse racing came after the Legislative Council witnessed uproarious scenes over the delay by the Government to reply to a question on the functioning of the Bangalore Turf Club.

When a few members alleged that the Government was deliberately withholding information as several IAS and IPS officers were on the management of the Bangalore Turf Club, Gowda said the Government was prepared to wield the whip on horse racing also. “We will not buckle under any pressure”, he said.