The romance of the Indian Derby - By Sharan Kumar
Posted on - 28 Jan 2015
The romance of the Indian Derby
By Sharan Kumar
There is a special charm and appeal that Indian Derby has for everyone associated with the sport. Winning the Indian Derby gives the thrill of creative effort. Every racing centre has its own Derby but nothing matches the glamour, glitz and the enchantment of Indian Derby. For every race horse owner and professional, winning Indian Derby is like conquering the Everest. Indian Derby is the mother of all Derbys.
``When I entered the field as a race horse owner, I was told that to have a runner in the Indian Derby itself was an achievement. I was lucky that in my first year itself, I had the privilege of having the first three finishers of the Indian Derby. If I keep investing on horses it is because I want to keep winning the Indian Derby,” Dr Vijay Mallya had said in an interview with this writer. If Indian breeders can sell their best horses at a premium, it is because the big buyers hope their wards cross the winning post of Mahalaxmi first in the Indian Derby.
Several race owners have been lucky to have won the Indian Derby within years of entering the fray; several others had to spend agonizing years in fulfilling their dream. For somebody like Dr M A M Ramaswamy, the biggest race horse owner the likes of whom we are unlikely to see, he had to wait for well over two decades to get a winner in his own colours. Each time his horse failed to win the magical Derby, his resolve to win it became stronger. Once he broke the jinx through Amazing Bay, Ramaswamy has won this event several times. This year, a horse owned by him namely Be Safe goes to the post as the overwhelming favourite. Be Safe’s incredible unbeaten run makes him an overwhelming favourite to win the race though the Indian Derby has proved to be a graveyard for favourites over successive years.
Ramaswamy has not ventured out to any racing centre due to restrictions on his movement because of his fragile legs due to infirmities of age. However, he is determined to take the trouble to make it to the Mahalaxmi on the Derby day in the hope of seeing Be Safe reach the summit of racing excellence. Be Safe will be venturing into the unknown territory as he will be running over a mile and half trip for the first time. Stamina and not speed has proved decisive in the Indian Derby. Be Safe faces an acid test on this score.
The Indian Derby has held its own fascination for all enthusiasts of the sport. In the days when there was no live telecast or webcast facility, the racing enthusiasts from other centres would make it a point to plan a trip well in advance for the coveted event. In the days when one had to depend on only a handful of flights of Indian Airlines, a visit to Mumbai was something that could not be decided overnight. It took lot of effort to get a ticket. I remember the days in the late 80s, the flight from Bangalore used to be full of those travelling for the Indian Derby alone.
Apart from the Derby, the other attraction has been the fashion extravaganza that one has been witness to. Derby is a social event where it is important to be seen sporting latest fashion trends while for the regulars it is serious business. The roar of the crowd reaches a crescendo when the horses take off for the mile and a half trip in front of the Grand Stand. The adrenaline rush is felt by everyone. The winner gets the kind of reception that makes the win worth its weight in gold. The long walk back on the aisle with the winning horse, to the paddock and unsaddling enclosure with thousands cheering the winning team is something that will be cherished long by the successful team. The heady experience of winning the Derby lasts a life time and watching any number of replays is like duplicating the experience.
Indian Derby has something that makes everyone respond to the challenge. Winning Indian Derby is sheer joy and joy after all is what we struggle for throughout our life.
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the author's personal views.)
