Indian Derby has changed dramatically: Dhunjibhoy

The 220-acre huge grassy patch of land of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) referred to as the lungs of the city, is also the location for horse racing, where some horses, jockeys and trainers have become legends. The Indian Derby — run in the first week of February every year — is the showpiece event of the RWITC at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, though Vijay Mallya’s USL pitches in with the glamour quotient. A horse owner, breeder, a veteran in shipping business and one who stepped on the racecourse as a toddler, Khushroo Dhunjibhoy, talks about the Indian Derby that is to be run here on February 1.

“My introduction to this racecourse was when I was two or three years old and in the 1950s because my parents were race horse owners. My first attendance of the Derby must have been probably in the mid 1960s. Well, we were brought up with horses and we just love them. The first horse I owned was in 1967; it was named Mr. Hardy. It belonged to an old Army General. He could not pay his bills. So he had to let it go; I and three more partners (girl friend, sister and brother-in-law) bought it for a princely sum of Rs. 15,000. It was a great start to owning a horse. I owned a few more that won classics, but the crowning glory was the filly called Jacqueline. She won four classics including the Derby and that made it memorable for me,’’ reflected Mr. Dhunjibhoy, while talking to The Hindu on Thursday morning in the course of a ‘Breakfast with Champions’ event. He was recently re-elected Chairman of the RWITC. Excerpts:

Question: Time for another exciting Indian Derby?

Answer: The Indian Derby is, really, the event of the year for horse racing. The preparation starts from the Pune season. The horses are trained with the target of ultimately running in the Derby. The horses run preparatory races, the trainers have to identify their Derby horses. They have to achieve a certain amount of proficiency to be able to run in the Derby. It’s a long term plan, it doesn’t happen overnight. For every owner that’s the dream; win the Indian Derby. So that’s the first thing that excites you to come into horse racing and also at some stage wanting to win the Derby.

Q: The Indian Derby has probably changed from a race with some lucky punters making big bucks to a gala show with the upper crust of the society making it a point to be there?

A: Plenty of it. It has changed dramatically and I think the real kudos goes to Mr. Vijay Mallya. He’s changed the Indian Derby. It virtually represents what ‘Signature’ stands for. I think Indian Derby has made a mark. I was telling somebody that Mr. Mallya should donate a statue of a horse to commemorate his support for the Indian Derby. He’s brought the passion, glamour, the build up; he’s given a different look to the racing scene in India. The stands are full, car parks are full and we run out of everything at the club on that day. The stakes were probably Rs. 10 lakh many years ago, now the stakes are probably Rs. 3.5 crore. But big money is needed; horse racing without sponsorship is very difficult.

Q: How many horses actually come into the reckoning for the Derby?

A: Not more than 20. We have a racing crop of around 1200 every year on an average and 20 make the mark. In the 1960s, as far as I remember, there were about 400 to 500 horses. We cannot expand anymore now. That’s it.

Q: What about the horses profile over the years?

A: The Poonawalla Breeders Million gives a pointer, although very few horses that have won the Poonawalla Million have gone to win the Indian Derby. But generally we find horses which are mature, when they are three or four years old, that come into the classic reckoning. It takes time to develop the musculature of the horse.

Q: How much goes into making a potential Derby winner?

A: The first and foremost thing is the genetics of the horse. The ability to run largely depends on that. In the age of computerisation one can go back by decades. There are lots of ways to look at the genetics of a horse. So we always look for the pedigree and genetics. You can never buy an immediate champion. We bring the mares into India with good genetics and hope that they will evolve with families in India and do well in races.

The other thing we look at a horse is the conformation of a horse athletically, bone structure and all that. We look at two horses like looking at two athletes; one running the 100 metres and the other a marathon. The construction of these two will also apply to the horses. Upbringing is also important. It’s very scientific today. I go and look at my horses every week; so visuals are important.

Q: What about the punter profile?

A: We depend on the small punters for revenue. The tax structure is ridiculous in the State. We give 20 per cent to the State, the club charges 10 per cent and this kills the punter’s zeal. He does not get value for money. The tote turnover in Bangalore with eight per cent tax was Rs. 1560 crore last year. In Mumbai it’s Rs. 100 crore. It’s the only gambling sport in India where betting is legal; so one has to promote that. Horse racing is well regulated. The people who regulate it really do for the love of it.