The Indian Derby Stakes have augmented immensely since 1953 - By Bob Sawhny
Posted on - 29 Jan 2011
The Indian Derby Stakes have augmented immensely since 1953
By Bob Sawhny
Mumbai: The premier event of the Indian Turf, The McDowell Signature Indian Derby (Grade 1), which always draws a mammoth crowd, is traditionally held each year, on the first Sunday of February, at the plush Mahalaxmi racecourse. It is one of the most important events in Mumbai’s social calendar and has been sponsored since 1985 by Messrs McDowell & Co.
It will be well worth comparing the winner’s prize in the earlier years, to the amount which is offered now. The Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir’s - owned Regal Domain received a mere Rs.43,310 and a cup valued at Rs.2,000 for his 1953 Indian Derby victory. In contrast, now the winner of the 2011 Indian Derby to be run here on Sunday, 6th February 2011 will receive approximately a whopping sum of Rs. 1.3 Crores and an exquisite Gold Trophy, thanks to the magnanimous contribution of Rs.1,50,00,000 by McDowell & Co. Ltd.
Furthermore, the UB Group, sponsors of the Indian Derby over the last 27 years have agreed to shell out a colossal amount of Rs.28 Crores as sponsors for the Indian Derby for five successive years viz., 2013 to 2017, which will be the biggest prize money on offer for a single individual winner in the history of Indian Sports.
It will be of interest to know, that in the 40’s and 50’s there were no starting stalls and the horses were lined up as per their ‘open air’ draws, in front of two thick elastic rubber tapes, which had regular cloth tapes in between , supported to a frame. The starter would pull a lever, which would lift the tapes, when he felt that all the horses were ready to start.
Trainer Purtu Singh, one of the oldest professionals in India, who regularly rode for the Royal families of Gwalior, Kashmir, Morvi, Idar etc., in those princely days jocularly said , "It was extremely difficult for the starter to give a level start , especially when there were too many horses in a race. Very often, when the start was given as in The 1948 Indian Derby, which had a field of 21 runners, quite a few horses were left facing The Mahalaxmi Station."
Purtu Singh was astride Madhuri, who narrowly lost to Jeanne D’Arc ( Rickaby up ), the winner of The 1948 Derby . The shrewdest piece of riding in the 50’s, was exhibited by Ken Gethin on The B.R. Patel trained Martial Law (1952) owned by Maharani Seeta Devi Gaekwar of Baroda. Gethin, who sensed the crawling pace being set by Fitz Call (Cracknell up) in a field of 12, surged Martial Law to the front at the 800 metres, a wise decision, which eventually turned out to be a winning one, as his mount lasted out to win by a dwindling half-a-length from Fitz Call who edged out Maharaj Kumari into the third spot by a short head. Martial Law’s victory in The 1952 Indian Derby remains till date, as the slowest run Indian Derby in 2 Minutes 50 seconds.
Despite the horde of some really top class foreign jockeys in the 40’s and the 50’s, Kheem Singh became the first Indian jockey to win The Indian Derby astride, The A.L.J. Talib - trained, Balam ( 1949) who was owned by Mr. Chandulal J. Shah. In a pulsating finish, the classy colt, Balam prevailed by a neck from the Rickaby - ridden Prince of Ramgarh the favorite in a time of Two minutes 41-3/5 seconds.
Commoner (1954), became the first winner to add to his Indian 2000 Guineas success and to go on and claim The Indian St.Leger thereby achieving the distinction of being the first Indian Triple Crown winner.
In the 40’s and 50’s Royal Pageantry was prevalent at The Mahalaxmi racecourse in a traditional environment of exquisite aristocracy, on Indian Derby Day. However, after the 60’s, although the aristocratic ambience waned, the social elite continue to throng the picturesque Mahalaxmi racecourse - on the first Sunday of February, each year. Quick to recognize this immense appeal of The Indian Derby, Dr.Vijay Mallya leapt at the opportunity of associating his McDowell brand with the biggest draw of Indian Racing, a decision apparently has been a major success.
