Indian Derby: A past winner reflects on the record-breaking day

Vivek Jain, chairman of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) said this weekend that the McDowell Signature Indian Derby 2010 "redefines Indian sport." Sounds lofty but in a way, it is true. 

This Sunday the country’s most exalted annual horse racing event took place amidst a kind of social and fashion orgy. The men looked razor sharp in fine Indian summer linen and the ladies resplendent in their sometimes beautiful and sometimes bizarre hats.

They had a date with Jacqueline and it was Jacqueline's date with history. 

In sheer numbers the Derby Day gathering did not disappoint. It was a crowd that numbered upwards of 27,000 with the usual Derby day suspects present in flocks. Socialites, wannabe socialites, movie stars, wannabe movie stars, models, wannabe models, industrialists, future industrialists, singers, bathroom singers, fashion designers and fashion victims.

The action in the paddock was manic.

A Tina Turner lookalike egged on the crowd with her rendition of "Simply The Best." A Michael Jackson lookalike sang "You Gotta Be Starting Something" and illusionist Jay Wilcox made his beautiful lady partner disappear into a small box and then stuck swords through it.

As Jacqueline paraded in the paddock and threw up her head, she seemed pleased with all the familiar action on the day of her historic run, even though history itself seemed to be conspiring against her.

It had been nine years since a favourite had won the Indian Derby. And never before had a horse won The 1,000 Guineas, The 2,000 Guineas, The Oaks and The Derby.

'Jacque-pot Jacqueline' had incredibly won the first three. Would the Derby finally be her undoing?

A post race analysis showed that nearly 50 percent of all those who had bet on the race had put their faith and their money on Jacqueline. A post race interview showed the owners of Jacqueline, all grown men, weeping like little boys. And the post race television replay showed exactly why those eyes filled up. 

Jacqueline's heart was huge. She battled from an impossible position in the last two hundred meters and snatched victory from what seemed to be another jinxed Derby for the favorite. Not only that but she also crushed the track record to dust beneath her hooves. So brave was the filly in victory that even those who had not bet on her could not begrudge her the glory of her achievement. 

Maybe that’s why 27,000 people clapped in unison and chanted "Pesi’s Girl" as she walked her way back to the paddock for her victory lap. No victory of Jacqueline could be complete without a mention of Pesi Shroff, the legendary ex-jockey who turned legendary trainer this day. And when Shroff said, after the race, that all he looked forward to now was a good night's sleep, you had the feeling he deserved it. 

No great victory is complete without great competitors either and the name Beckett will trouble the connections of Jacqueline whenever these two equine champions meet next.

Dr Mallya, chairman of the United Spirits Group, presented the largest ever winning Derby purse of Rs 1,27,38,000 crores to the proud owners of Jacqueline, Mr and Mrs Vijay Shirke, Mr K.N.Dhunjibhoy and Mr Berjis Minoo Desai. 

Off the track the action continued in the 16,000 square foot air-conditioned tent which housed a flea market and tarot card reading amongst other live entertainment. Finally, as the sunset crowd streamed out, drunk with the action on the track as well as the action at the many bars generously put up by sponsors United Spirits (who celebrated their silver anniversary of sponsoring the Indian Derby) there was one final feel-good episode for the punters to take home with them. 

Possibly the only winners faster than Jacqueline and happier than her party that day, were husband and wife Sharokh and Havovi Goveshni who predicted the 1-2-3-4 position winners correctly and sped off in a C Class Mercedes. 

CNNGo Mumbai has friends everywhere. Our horse's mouth is Shiven Surendranth, a Mumbai based advertising film director and avid racing aficionado. On the marketing working group of the RWITC and a committee member of the Western India Race Horse Owners Association, Shiven is a race horse owner and won the Indian Derby in 2006, in record timing, with his horse Velvet Rope followed by a 2009 Delhi Derby win with his horse Tomsk.

getting there

The Royal Western India Turf Club conducts racing on most Thursdays and Sundays right up to April 25. Then in April, most of the racing takes place only on the weekend. For passes call Mr G Venkatesan, tel +91 (0) 22 2307 1396 or mail your request to adm@rwitc.com. The Club also conducts a season of racing in nearby Poona from July to October.

The Mumbai RWITC has no residential accommodation but for those interested in checking in somewhere close to the action the best option is the Four Seasons Hotel in Worli.