Derby postponed after grooms go on strike
India: The running of the richest race in India's history has reportedly been delayed due to a bitter industrial relations row.Martin Dwyer and Ireland's Chris Hayes had flown into India to ride in the Bangalore Derby on Sunday but it has been rescheduled for next weekend, according to reports.
Channel 4 Racing presenter Alice Plunkett, in India working for television, on Saturday night tweeted: "The Bangalore Derby has been postponed for a week as the BTC [Bangalore Turf Club] couldn't come to agreement with stable staff who have maintained a strike."
With prize-money of 23.5 million rupees (about £325,000), the race has upstaged the nation's senior Classic, the Indian Derby at Mumbai racecourse in February. However, the prestigious raceday was left hanging by a thread after local stable staff went on strike, forcing Saturday's card to be called off, with the BTC suggesting it would be rescheduled for Monday.
Sources in India said officials had been confident Sunday's showpiece would go ahead as planned, but the grooms' union was refusing to negotiate with trainers on Saturday.
A rancorous impasse appeared to have been reached when the BTC said it would provide police support in a bid to ensure the Derby card goes ahead.
A maximum field of 18 had been set to contest the Bangalore Derby with Dwyer partnering Preordained, trained by Sadakshara Padmanabhan, who also trains Hayes's mount Speed Six.
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