In a sudden move that is viewed as surprising considering that the final hearing of the biggest drug scandal in western India horse racing is heading towards conclusion next week (Aug 23), Shivlal Daga, chairman of the stewards of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) Ltd, has resigned. The stewards of the club is the apex body that regulates the sport of horse racing, including holding inquiries, carrying out investigations and handing out punishments. Daga, who was first elected as steward in 1980, and has served as one over the last three decades barring only a couple of years, is the most experienced among the present lot of stewards.

In his resignation, Daga has cited as reason the 'soft' nature of punishment given to trainer Robert D'Mello whose horse, Western Challenge, had tested positive for Indomethacine, a banned drug. In an inquiry that was concluded on August 13, D'Mello was handed a suspension of only 45 days, despite this being his fifth offense. "I hold the view that drug offenses deserve the most stringent punishment," Daga told MiD DAY. "If my colleagues did not back me, I thought it best to resign."

However, not everyone is ready to buy the ostensible reason cited by Daga, including his colleague and club chairman Vivek Jain. "There could be more to this than meets the eye. Daga had worked on the entire inquiry of the most high profile drug case in the club's history, but his sudden resignation at the last minute may delay the process further," said Jain referring to the case of three Classic horses testing positive last season in Mumbai.