A
keen horseman, Maharaja Sir Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla maintained one of the
finest stables of race horses in India and England, marked by quality and not
quantity.
His thoroughbreds won
several prestigious races, including the first Indian Derby in 1919 (Tipster),
the Irish Derby in 1926 and Belgian Grand Prix in 1927 (Embargo), and the blue
riband of the turf, the Epsom Derby of England in 1934 (Windsor Lad).
Maharaja Vijaysinhji – or ‘Pip’, as he was affectionately
known in the UK - is still the only Indian owner to have bagged the English
Derby, considered the greatest horse race in the world, cheered on by an
estimated quarter to half a million people which included King George V and
Queen Mary of Britain and other members of the royal family. The Maharaja
thereby completed a brilliant hat-trick of Derby wins: the first-ever Indian
Derby, the Irish Derby and the coveted Epsom Derby of England, making him
arguably the greatest-ever Indian racehorse owner.
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