The Hindu : Good Neighbour Policy gets TAI backing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2003

Sport

Sport - Racing : Horse

Good Neighbour Policy gets TAI backing

BANGALORE Sept. 9. The Turf Authorities of India has joined seven other affiliates of the Asian Racing Federation viz: the Australian Racing Board, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Japan Racing Association, The Korea Racing Association, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, Singapore Turf Club and Jockey Club of Turkey, in signing the Good Neighbour Policy designed to crackdown on illegal and unauthorised off-shore bookmakers and betting.

Last year, Hong Kong and Japan initiated the Good Neighbour Policy to counter the menace of illegal betting.

With these key ARF jurisdictions joining forces the policy has been given a tremendous boost.

Mr. Bob Charley, chairman of the Australian Racing Board said after the historic meeting in Hong Kong that the path hereafter, "is to gain support from our respective governments because we can not win this fight on our own.''

The ARF affiliates expressed concern over the danger illegal betting posed to the societies, government revenue and racing livelihoods.

Mr. Cyrus Poonawalla, who represented TAI at the Hong Kong meeting, said the Good Neighbour Policy, "is an excellent pro-active move by the signatories to come one more step closer in putting up a united front to fight the potential dangers to the integrity of bona-fide betting and licenced gambling without which the survival of horse racing and its finances is threatened.''

Mr. Lau Kian Hong, senior vice president of the Singapore Turf Club characterised the Good Neighbour Policy as an important initiative and a timely one.

The long term vision of the policy is to bring racing communities of the region as close as possible.

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