Racing World
Vol. II - No.5 (April-May 2005)
Reminiscences of the Indian Derby Weekend
Ms. Ameeta Mehra
It was one of those days... when I woke up with a special feeling in my
heart, very special. Read prayers and meditations and got ready to go to the
races.
At The Races...
Oh my God! I don’t believe it, what a day of grace. Starting with Flashing
Star, followed by Monifieth, then the grand Indian Derby with Southern
Regent, and a fitting finale with Live Legend. It was a dream come true, and
the first thought went to my father. The credit goes to him, his training
and teaching me has borne fruit.
On The Flight Back...
I remembered all those years of quiet work, routine mundane things, like
checking the feed mangers and water troughs every morning, accounts, labour,
purchase, administration and other things one had to do, day after day, just
simply watching the mares, the foals, the weanlings and the yearlings,
attentive to small details, the thirst to do things well, to pay attention
to the minutest details, just like a painter creates a masterpiece. Except,
ours is a masterpiece of perfectly coordinated movement... a Racehorse.
On The farm...
As I alighted from my car, the first faces I saw was my staff, gleaming,
proud and standing tall. A well of Gratitude filled my heart for them, for
their labour of love, for their dedication, and I congratulated them for
their victory. They had all piled into their jeeps and driven to the
racecourse to see the horses run. The manager, the grooms of all the horses
running, the feed men, and the rest who couldn’t make it, watched the live
telecast on TV at the farm.
We began chatting about the horse – Southern Regent. His groom reminded me,
“madam aap ko yaad hog, ki yeh wo hi ghora tha jo 7 foot fence ke upar jump
kar gaya, aur use kuch nehi hua. Bilkul mast tha!” Oh yes! I remembered, he
was a tough fellow, standing 15.3˝ hands as yearling, with 8˝ bone and 460
kgs in weight. One moment he was standing inside the paddock, next moment he
had calmly jumped out! He had a strange peculiarity while lunging, he would
go happily on one circle and refuse to lunge on the reverse circle.
However, I must add that Venus Arising was also a very beautiful specimen
and displayed a lot of strength and agility at the farm. It was no surprise
that she became a champion filly.
Went to say hello to Razeen, to give him his favourite ‘carrots’. I was
wonderstruck. He looked so dignified, standing majestically, hardly more
than a glance of recognition, gleaming in the mild winter sun, taking carrot
after carrot from my outstretched hand.
Derby Aftermath...
Back to the grind, lots of celebrations for the staff, coverings, foalings,
tending to the new yearling crop, and continuing with the ole’ familiar stud
farm routine.
My Motto “All can be done if the God-touch is there.” |
