Where legends lineup and dreams go full gallop By Sharan Kumar The global spotlight once again turns to Meydan , the jewel of Dubai, for an electrifying night of top-class action as the Dubai World Cup and a host of elite Group 1 races thunder into the desert spotlight on Saturday. From dirt-slinging duels to turf-powered triumphs, racing fans are in for a treat of epic proportions. As someone who's witnessed this journey unfold over the years, the transition from Nad Al Sheba to Meydan in just a year— without disrupting the racing calendar —remains one of the greatest feats in modern sporting infrastructure. The Meydan stadium is a wonder in itself: a grandstand that stretches into the horizon , an on-site five-star hotel , and facilities that rival any sporting venue on the planet. This venue wasn’t just built—it was crafted with vision and passion , spearheaded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , Vice ...
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Dubai World Cup drama unfolds beneath a canopy of opulence By Sharan Kumar The Dubai World Cup is not merely a race—it is horse racing’s most opulent stage, where extravagance reigns supreme. In an era where racing struggles for survival elsewhere, Dubai stands defiantly, turning Meydan Racecourse into a shimmering paradise of wealth, spectacle, and elite competition. From jaw-dropping prize purses to architectural marvels, from racing royalty to the sheer pageantry of the occasion, every element drips with luxury. While the sport in other parts of the world fights to stay afloat, Dubai transforms it into a high-stakes celebration—where speed meets splendour, power meets prestige and the thrill of the turf glows as brilliantly as the city’s skyline. The magnificent Meydan is set to dazzle as it hosts a thrilling nine-race card, with the prestigious Emirates Dubai World Cup as its crowning jewel. Since its inception in 1996, when the legendary American champio...
Dubai World Cup 2025: A Global Showdown for Racing Supremacy! By Sharan Kumar Buckle up, racing fans—the Dubai World Cup 2025 is here! Scheduled perfectly on the first Saturday of April, this year’s event blends world-class racing with Eid celebrations, because, let’s be honest, what’s a festival without some multi-million-dollar action on the turf? The Dubai World Cup meeting isn’t just another day at the races—it’s a global spectacle featuring equine superstars from 13 countries , including an eye-watering 35 individual Group or Grade 1 winners. With $30.5 million in total prize money on the line, expect fireworks on the turf and dirt as the world's best battle for supremacy. As expected, the world’s elite racehorses are jetting into Dubai like VIPs at an exclusive gala. The American speedsters, the European warhorses, and, of course, the Japanese juggernauts are all vying for the sport’s ultimate prize. And speaking of Japan, they’re not just making ...
A witty, unflinching look at racing’s dark side By Sharan Kumar I just finished Murder at the Race Course , and I must say that the author, Berjis Desai, has done a remarkable job of peeling back the carefully curated illusion of horse racing to reveal its seedy underbelly—crooked characters, shadowy dealings, and all. While the author has politely labelled this a work of fiction, anyone remotely familiar with the sport will recognize some of the “fictional” faces lurking in these pages. Of course, a few creative liberties have been taken, but let’s not kid ourselves—reality often outdoes imagination when it comes to racing’s rogues’ gallery. Yes, the book paints a rather gory picture of the sport, but then again, racing has always been a cocktail of brilliance and decay, somehow managing to limp forward despite the rot within. The present-day narrative isn’t much better—betting syndicates pull the strings, horses are bought for absurd sums ...
Will Logic Prevail or Will Egos Sink Racing? By Sharan Kumar The final day of the 2025 Madras Race Club season trotted to a close on Sunday—though "final" might be the operative word here. The government, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that horse racing is far less important than, say, a few extra flower beds, terminating the club's lease and handing over the premises to the Horticulture Department. A magnanimous gesture indeed! But fear not, racing enthusiasts, for the powers that be have graciously dangled the carrot of a new Greenfield racecourse in Hosur. Of course, whether racing will be permitted for another season at its current location remains as clear as a foggy winter morning. The club authorities, meanwhile, will have to summon every ounce of persuasive charm—perhaps even divine intervention—to extract concessions from a government that seems about as flexible as a brick wall. Unlike their counterparts at Bangalore Turf Club, who ...
Dr. John Weld: The Unsung Maestro of Indian Bloodstock By Sharan Kumar In the world of Indian horse breeding, where flashy marketing often trumps actual merit, one name stands tall—albeit in the shadows—Dr. John Weld. A bloodstock agent of exceptional calibre, Dr. Weld has played a pivotal role in elevating Indian stud farms, yet, unlike some of his more social-media-savvy peers, he hasn’t flooded the internet with self-congratulatory posts. As a result, his remarkable contributions remain criminally underappreciated. For those unfamiliar with the man, Dr. Weld isn’t just another horse whisperer; he’s a top-tier veterinarian who played a crucial role in setting up the now-iconic Kunigal Stud Farm when Dr. Vijay Mallya took over. Not only did he transform it into one of the country’s finest breeding operations, but he also left behind a legacy of champion horses—most notably Desert God, the highest stakes-earner in Indian racing history. And let’s not forget, he had...
Fate of Ooty race course sealed for ever By Sharan Kumar And just like that, another chapter of Indian racing history is shut, sealed, and buried beneath a carefully curated eco-park. Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam’s announcement in his budget speech put the final nail in the coffin, confirming that an eco-park will now sprout where champions once galloped. The government has taken back 53 acres of the Ooty Racecourse, with seven acres marked as marshland conservation while the rest will be transformed into a tourist-friendly green space. The land was reclaimed by the Revenue Department from the Madras Race Club (MRC) on the grounds of an eye-watering Rs 822 crore in unpaid lease arrears last July. The club’s attempts to seek reprieve from the Supreme Court hit a brick wall, as the apex court refused to entertain the petition—after all, the lease had conveniently expired over three decades ago. The Finance Minister’s budge...
Redefined triumphs even as MRC forced to define its future By Sharan Kumar While the grand spectacle of the Gr 1 HPSL Indian Turf Invitation Cup unfolded at the Madras Race Course on Sunday, the air was thick with irony—because even as the champions were crowned, the very ground they raced on stood at the edge of extinction. But first, let’s talk about the race. Prasanna Kumar-trained Redefined , who had played the bridesmaid to Ranquelino in the Bangalore Derby back in January, proved that nothing refreshes tired legs quite like a well-timed vacation. While his rivals carried the wear-and-tear of battle, Redefined galloped in with the energy of a horse that had just returned from a retreat , making the opposition look like extras in his one-horse show. The Manjri Stud Farm-bred gelding , already a Pune Derby winner, looked an entirely different beast—one that had this race wrapped up long before the finish line . ...