Horse trainer Irfan Ghatala foiled an attempt to poison ace thoroughbred that won the Holenarasipur cup on Sunday
Horse trainer Irfan Ghatala foiled an attempt to poison ace thoroughbred that won the Holenarasipur cup on SundaySunspirit appeared to be in great form after it won the prestigious Holenarasipur cup on Sunday. What many in the cheering crowd did not know is how close the betting mafia came to destroying the thoroughbred's career.
Irfan Ghatala, the horse's trainer, caught his assistant Vinesh V drugging Sunspirit, a day before the races, to ensure that it did not win races anymore.
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The assistant was allegedly paid Rs 5 lakh by a Mumbai-based bookie to poison the horse.
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| Sunspirit, who was administered massive amounts of an as yet unidentified but dangerous drug, stands tall at the Bangalore Turf Club |
Ghatala filed a complaint with the Bangalore Turf Club on July 3 against Vinesh and also complained to the High Grounds police.
Ghatala had reportedly noticed Sunshine's deteriorating health, a day before the race. He kept and tab on his assistant Vinesh, who was taking care of the horse.
After Vinesh was caught red handed, he reportedly confessed to drugging Sunspirit on the prompting of his colleagues Sachin and Suresh.
Vinesh further confessed he was offered Rs 5 lakh by Naveen, a bookie from Bangalore, who was financed by another bookie, Jay from Mumbai.
Vinesh had reportedly administered dangerously strong doses of the drug to Sunspirit that could have killed the horse had the crime not come to light. Vinesh reportedly confessed that he has drugged the horse in the past as well.
Irfan then took Vinesh before a notary and got his statement recorded on a stamp paper and presented it before the BTC board.
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| Irfan Ghatala, Sunspirit's trainer, complaint againstu00a0 his assistant Vinesh with the Bangalore Turf Club on Monday. |
"This is a bigger racket involving crores of rupees," Irfan explained. High grounds Police Sub Inspector Omprakash G, who is investigating this case, refused to comment.
BTC chairman, Harinder Shetty, said the Bangalore Turf Club was not 'a party' to the issue.
"Irfan has filed a complaint in his individual capacity and submitted a copy of the complaint to us for reference. The accused is not a staff member. We are not concerned," Shetty said.
