FIN POWRIE

It was back in December of 2007 that the Bangalore Truf Club took the decision to hire Fin Powrie as Racing Advisor. However it was not until April that the internationally renowned Australian actually received his appointment order as certain factions within the managing committee of BTC, who owed their allegiance to powers inimical to the fair conduct of racing, tried their best to stall his selection.
Fin Powrie has vast experience as a racing administrator and has served with distinction in Australia, Dubai and New Zealand. He not only served as the Chief Stipendiary Steward of the Dubai Race Club but also ensured that the International Racing Carnival became a truly global event with participation of horses from over 50 countries. In his previous job before accepting BTC’s offer Fin Powrie headed the Integrity Commission of New Zealand racing.
With his abundant knowledge and expertise Fin Powrie will be a huge asset in helping improve the manner in which racing is conducted in Bangalore and Mysore. Part of his portfolio is to identify and train young racing officials from around the country and those who get a chance to work with him are sure to benefit immensely.
Racing World caught up with this straight talking Aussie to find out how his first few months of working in India have  been.
Fin feels that by and large he has had the support of the committee and that his ideas and plans have been well accepted. On the specifics of what he has been able to achieve he points to the formalisation of procedures for charge sheeting of professionals charged with racing offences. Unlike previously, erring trainers and jockeys will be given a charge sheet which specifically details the infringement they are being charged with and they will be given a certain period of time by which they have to answer these charges. The professional also has the liberty to call upon witnesses to help with his defence as well as name whomever he wishes to represent him at his enquiry. The charge sheet is available in three languages, English, Kannada and Hindi so that the professional can answer the charges against him in the language he is most comfortable with. This move helps in making the whole system of enquiries more transparent and is in keeping with procedures followed internationally. Another area where a start has been made to make things work more professionally is improving the production quality of televised enquiries and objections so that arguments and counter arguments can be heard clearly by the watching  public. One aspect that Fin feels is being controlled well is the use of the whip and the system in place at present does go a long way in ensuring that horses are not put under unnecessarily harsh pressure by the misuse of the whip. An area that he is spending a lot of time working on is the safety of riders during the race. All riding infringements are being tabulated and riders are being called in and spoken to about their riding styles especially with regard to keeping a straight course. Corrective methods are suggested and riders are now being dealt with on infringements where previously they had gotten away scot free. Fin has also got the handicappers and stipes working closely together in preparing speed charts and forecasting the positions of each of the runners in a particular race based on past performances so that anomalies, if any, in the actual race can be picked up and investigated for malpractice. Fin is keen that the race clubs identify a pool of enthusiastic and passionate youngsters who can be trained to become the next generation of racing administrators. He is into the sixth month of his two year contract and despite having to adjust to the different pace at which things happen in Indian racing there is no doubting the earnestness and sincerity with which Fin Powrie goes about his job.

- Sanjay Reddy