Windsor Lad’s £1,000,000 bill for bookies
250,000 Crowd See Hot Derby Favourite Well Beaten
As soon as Windsor Lad had flashed past the
winning post, his owner, the Maharajah of Rajpipla, went forward to greet him.
The Maharajah is a regular visitor to English racecourses, and when the crowd
recognised him they set up an ear-splitting cheer. He was obviously thrilled at
this typical British greeting, and he beamed with pleasure as he doffed his
grey top hat. The Aga Khan sprinted forward to congratulate him, and he was
soon surrounded by a host of friends and acquaintances.
“Give me five minutes,” pleaded the
Maharaja when interviewed by a reporter. “I can’t collect my thoughts.” And his
actions were true to his words. His slightly grey hair was ruffled with
excitement. He waved his hands as he expostulated, his features twitching in a
nervous smile.
A polite message was then whispered in the
ear of the joyful owner. “The King has sent for you,” he was told. The Maharaja
turned in a daze, still carrying his hat in his hand, and walked away up the
stairs.
The Maharaja of Rajpipla rules a State of
1600 square miles in the Bombay Presidency. He spends a great deal of his time
in this country, and resides at The Manor, Old Windsor in Berkshire ,
hence the name, Windsor Lad, for the best horse he has ever owned. His chief
recreations are polo and racing.
(Author Indra Vikram Singh, grandson of
Maharaja Sir Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla, can be contacted on email
singh_iv@hotmail.com. Follow Indra Vikram Singh on Twitter @IVRajpipla).
A Maharaja’s Turf
ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3
Published in India by Sporting Links
Fully Illustrated
Hardcover 8.75 x 11.5 x 0.6 inches (landscape)
140 Pages
MRP Rupees 1995
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, India. Tel. + 91 11 23417175, 23412567, Email
varietybookdepot@gmail.com.
