Ferdinand
Kuhn jr. wrote in The New York Times:
“Windsor
Lad, the superb 3-year-old owned by the Maharajah of Rajpipla, won the English
Derby by a length today after one of the most thrilling last-minute struggles
in all the 151 years of racing on Epsom Downs. Lord Woolavington’s Easton
finished second. He was ridden by Gordon Richards, England’s champion jockey,
who narrowly missed gaining the first Derby triumph of his career. A neck
behind Easton came Lord Glanely’s Colombo, the overwhelming favourite, who had
failed only after an effort which left most hardened racegoers spellbound.
From a
good start Medieval Knight was the first to show in front. At the mile post he
was still in front but yielded the pace setting to Tiberius as the field sped
downhill on the back stretch. At Tattenham Corner Tiberius was still in the van
but jockey Smirke had moved Windsor Lad fast into second place.
Down the
broad straightaway under the eyes of King George and perhaps half a million of
his subjects these three had shot ahead out of a field of nineteen and until
the last three had thundered along almost neck and neck. Close to the rails was
Windsor Lad, his jockey crouching low and cracking the whip to urge the horse
on. In the middle was Easton, with Richards straining every nerve to win. On
the outside, nearest the packed grandstand, Colombo was making the fight of his
life as if conscious of all the hundreds of thousands of pounds that had been
staked on him. His jockey had lost his position against the rails rounding
Tattenham Corner, but Colombo soon forged ahead from behind. To the astonished
crowd it looked as if the favourite might snatch the victory away from Windsor
Lad after all.
But fifty
yards from home the strain was too much. Once they headed for the judges, the
Maharajah’s colt quickly bounded for the front while Colombo swung wide. That
move may have cost the race as Smirke took Windsor Lad the shortest way home.
Colombo, who had never been beaten before, dropped behind while the purple and
cream colours of the Maharajah flashed past in front.
Windsor
Lad finished in 2 minutes 34 seconds, thus equalling the all-time record
established by Hyperion last year. Sir Abe Bailey’s Tiberius finished fourth.
All the rest were hopelessly beaten, including the only American-owned entry
Bondsman, who struggled home in eleventh place.”
(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:
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
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