('A Maharaja's Turf' is a collector's edition on the triumph of Maharaja Sir Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla in the Epsom Derby 1934, the only Indian owner ever to win the much-coveted blue riband of the turf as his Irish-bred horse Windsor Lad finished first on that damp afternoon of 6th June that year. The book has been written by the Maharaja's grandson Indra Vikram Singh).
This is the story of a man who followed his dream, of a prince who set his eyes on a lofty goal, worked towards it assiduously, relentlessly and intelligently, with passion and patience, and eventually won the biggest prize of them all. Horses were the passion of Maharana Vijaysinhji, ruler of Rajpipla. He wanted to own the best horses in the world, and to win the most prestigious horse races devised by man. Minor successes did not satisfy the ambitious young man. He wanted dearly to reach the pinnacle, and did. That is why it is such an inspiring tale.
Succeeding his father Maharana
Chhatrasinhji as ruler of the 4,000 square kilometres first-class Rajpipla
State in the Rewakantha Agency of the Bombay Presidency in the year 1915, the
adroit Vijaysinhji established himself as a leading light of the Indian
racecourses very early. In 1919 he won the first-ever Indian Derby, then known
as the Country Bred Derby and run in Calcutta, with his Kunigal-bred horse
Tipster, ridden by the famous Australian jockey ‘Bunty’ Brown.
Having been bestowed with the
title of Maharaja in 1921, Vijaysinhji then set his eyes on the centre of the
Empire and travelled extensively the next year in the British Isles, Europe and
United States of America, not just exploring the racing world and western
society, but also studying the workings of modern governments, systems and
institutions. He called on President Warren Harding in Washington, and visited
New York to gain first-hand knowledge of the stock exchange. Back in England,
he bought himself an estate near London on the banks of the Thames, with a
27-room Victorian mansion and extensive grounds, named ‘The Manor’ at Old
Windsor in Berkshire.
The world’s leading trainers and
jockeys were regular guests at Maharaja Vijaysinhji’s sprawling seaside ‘Palm
Beach’ Nepeansea Road residence at Bombay, and the grand ‘Sommerville Guest
House’ at Nandod (New Rajpipla town), the capital of Rajpipla State. Steve
Donoghue, an expert on the great Epsom Derby, was a visitor in 1924. Quizzed
about the path to a Derby win, the legendary jockey advised his host to buy a
good yearling or two every year. On returning home Donoghue purchased Embargo
for the Maharaja that summer, and rode him to victory in the Irish Two Thousand
Guineas as well as Irish Derby in 1926. Vijaysinhji, who had been knighted the
previous year, felt convinced that he was well on the way to realising his big
aspiration.
Winning the blue riband of the
turf was, however, not such an easy ride. A caller in 1932 was the celebrated
trainer Fred Darling, whose input was to start breeding with good mares (which
matter 75 per cent as the Maharaja himself held) and a proven stallion. And so
the keen Vijaysinhji started a stud in England with Embargo as sire, even as he
continued buying high quality yearlings.
In July the same year, Darling’s
protege Marcus Marsh, now training for the Maharaja, spotted a promising colt
at the Newmarket sales, and received approval to purchase him. They named him
Windsor Lad. The genial animal shaped extremely well under the tutelage of
Marsh, a younger son of the late Richard Marsh who had trained three Derby
winners for King Edward VII, and later trained the horses of the reigning King
George V.
In 1933 Windsor Lad won the
Criterion at Newmarket. As a three-year-old in 1934 he finished at the head of
the field in the 1 ½ miles Chester Vase and the mile-long Newmarket Stakes. His
discerning owner was now certain that the colt had the requisite stamina as
well as speed.
The favourite for the Derby was
the unbeaten Colombo, winner of seven races in 1933 and two in the current
season of 1934. But he had not proved himself in a twelve furlong race, and
Maharaja Vijaysinhji confidently stated that Colombo did not worry him. So sure
was he of Windsor Lad’s prowess that in a signed article later he declared that
he didn’t think he would win the Derby, he knew.
An estimated half a million
people began descending on the Epsom Downs right since daybreak on 6th June
1934. Around noon dark clouds drifted in and a sharp shower broke the
three-week-long dry spell. Just at this time the royal cavalcade drove in led
by the Rolls-Royce of King George V and Queen Mary; and followed by those
carrying the Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and
Queen Elizabeth, parents of the present Queen Elizabeth II; other members of
the family and the King of Greece. The Prince of Wales, who succeeded as King
Edward VIII but abdicated soon, joined them a little later.
There was a huge buzz around the
race as usual, but more so for the prophesy of Gipsy Lee, made as far back
1868, that a horse with a ‘W’ in its name would win in 1934. There were also a
number of uncanny coincidences around the number 13, which particularly
enchanted the ladies, who backed Windsor Lad.
They were off five minutes after
the scheduled 3 o’clock start, and Donoghue on Medieval Knight set a fast pace
by the side of the rails, with Colombo right behind. But reaching the top of
the hill, the leader cracked and Colombo was baulked coming down the hill towards
the iconic Tattenham Corner. Seizing the opportunity, Tiberius slipped through,
pursued closely by Easton and Windsor Lad.
Just after taking the big bend to
the left, Tiberius began to fade and was passed. The dashing Charlie Smirke –
returning after a ban of five years – soon breezed Windsor Lad along the rails
past Easton. Meanwhile Colombo recovered and made a great run on the outside in
the centre of the course. The crowd thought that the hitherto invincible
favourite would carry the day yet again, and began yelling “Colombo wins”. In
the final furlong the three horses were bunched closely together. At this
moment Colombo’s stamina failed him even as Windsor Lad surged to the post,
equalling the record of 2 minutes 34 seconds set up by Hyperion the previous
year.
The jubilant 44-year-old Maharaja
was already a popular figure on the English racecourses and had been
affectionately nicknamed ‘Pip’ by friends and the public alike. Now the
multitude roared “Good old Pip” as he led his victorious colt back to the
unsaddling area. Soon the King invited Maharaja Vijaysinhji to the royal box,
high up above the finishing post, and raised a toast to this exhilarating win.
Lady luck had indeed smiled on
the Indian prince when Colombo got hemmed in behind Medieval Knight, but
ultimately it was the deft training of Marsh, the speed and stamina of the
muscular Windsor Lad, and the skill of Smirke that carried the day.
No other Indian owner had won the
Derby before, nor one after, in its history dating back to 1780. One of the
first to congratulate Maharaja Vijaysinhji was his close friend the Aga Khan,
himself a distinguished Derby winner. Dreams do indeed come true, if you
persist long enough. During the Second World War, Maharaja Vijaysinhji donated
two Spitfire aircrafts named ‘Rajpipla’ and ‘Windsor Lad’, and the headlines
ran “Windsor Lad will fly”. The Maharaja was honoured with an MBE in 1945, and
when the winds of change wafted in, he merged his State with the Union of India
in 1948, bringing down the curtain on the 600-year rule of the Gohil Rajputs
over Rajpipla State.
(Author Indra Vikram Singh, Prince of Rajpipla and
grandson of HH Maharaja Sir Vijaysinhji, can be contacted on email teddy.rajpipla@gmail.com).
Follow Indra Vikram Singh on Twitter @IVRajpipla.
Indra Vikram Singh’s latest books published by Sporting Links
:
A Maharaja’s Turf ISBN 978-81-901668-3-6
The Big Book of World Cup Cricket ISBN
978-81-901668-4-3
Don’s Century ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0
Crowning Glory ISBN 978-81-901668-6-7
Distributed in India by :
Variety Book Depot,
AVG Bhawan,
M-3, Middle Circle, Connaught Circus,
New Delhi - 110 001. Tel. (011) 23417175,
23412567.
Indra Vikram Singh’s books are available in leading
bookstores and online on many websites.
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