B R Sharan Kumar

  A Pint-Sized Genius: Remembering Aslam Kader   By Sharan Kumar   Former champion jockey  Aslam Kader , one of Indian racing’s brightest and most mercurial talents, passed away in Bangalore on Thursday after a prolonged battle with lung cancer. He was 63   To describe Aslam merely as one of India’s finest jockeys would be an understatement. He was a phenomenon — a pint-sized genius who ruled the turf with a blend of grace and aggression rarely seen before or since. Known for his electric finishes and daring race sense, he dazzled racegoers in  Bangalore, Mumbai, and Kolkata , and other centres where his name became synonymous with excellence in the saddle.   Nicknamed  “AK-47”  — for  Aslam Kader  and the  47 kilograms  that remained his steady weight throughout his career — his winners came in volleys, often leaving rivals shell-shocked. His record of  77 winners in a single Mumbai season  remai...

  Favourites Falter on a Fierce Derby Day   By Sharan Kumar   If Derby Day at Hyderabad was supposed to be the punters’ paradise, it turned instead into their subscription to despair. The so-called “on-money certainties” folded faster than umbrellas after a drizzle, while longshots danced away with the spoils. Still, amid the chaos and crushed tickets, Donald Netto’s Nonpariel stood tall — and true to her name, proved simply without equal.   The Turf Authorities of India Cup (1400m) for the elite lot turned into Nonpariel’s personal exhibition gallop. The Dali progeny, carrying apprentice Sonu Kumar who rode with calm assurance, looked in total command — well, except for that fleeting moment in the final furlong when Diablo threatened to play spoilsport. The front-runner briefly shook off Nonpariel and looked home free until he decided to drift. Sonu needed no second invitation — he straightened his mount, pressed the button, and Nonpariel responded...

  Mountain Jewel Stuns Favourite in Derby Thriller   By Sharan Kumar   Jockey Anthony Raj seems to be galloping faster than the inflation rate these days. The man can’t stop winning. From Mysore to Hyderabad, he’s been on a first-name basis with the winning post. His latest conquest — the Gr.1 Race2win Foundation Hyderabad Deccan Derby on Sunday at Malakpet aboard Prasanna Kumar-trained Mountain Jewel — only added another gem to his crown.   On paper, Mountain Jewel was the “lesser fancied runner.” On the track, she was a rebel with a cause. When the gates opened, Matisse wasted no time proving that running wasn’t on his to-do list, unseating Kritish Bhagat almost as soon as the gates opened. Mindful took over the lead (perhaps mindful that someone had to), followed by Northern Waves , with Andre , Tolkien , Knight Regent , Super Star , Term Deposit , Red Bishop , Arrived , and finally Mountain Jewel bringing up the rear.   As they swung into ...

  Sandesh in Command with Five-Win Blitz   By Sharan Kumar   Racing these days seems to have misplaced its competitive spark. One-sided affairs are becoming the norm, and though favourites continue to rule the roost, their odds are so miserly that even a single upset leaves punters nursing their losses — a situation worsened by the punitive 40 per cent GST. With expensive entry tickets and little adrenaline left to savour, the ordinary racegoer is left more frustrated than thrilled. It’s time the authorities examined why the sport’s edge is dulling — perhaps the handicapping system needs a rethink to revive excitement and unpredictability.   Saturday’s Pune card was a perfect illustration of the trend. Leading jockey A Sandesh had a day out, booting home five winners — most of them virtual processions. The only relief came in the Gr 3 Threptin Fillies & Mares Stakes , where long shot Regina Memorabilis upset the market leaders Psychic Star and Tha...

  T.J.S. George — A Giant Who Preferred the Shadows   T.J.S. George, who passed away at the age of 97 on Friday, October 3, was a towering figure in Indian journalism — one who never sought the limelight that so often follows success. He preferred to remain in the background, letting his words, not his photograph, speak for him.   As the founder-editor of Asiaweek , George’s contribution to journalism was immense and enduring. He inspired generations of journalists, not through lofty speeches or social charm, but through sheer professional brilliance and an unyielding demand for excellence. He was the Editorial Advisor of the New Indian Express for more than three decades   T.J.S., as he was fondly known, was unlike any other editor. Stern, uncompromising, and exacting, he had little patience for mediocrity. Those who failed to meet his standards often found themselves reassigned—or quietly shown the door. Yet, for those who earned his respect, his regard...

  RWITC Keeps Tradition Alive with Media Day at Pune   By Sharan Kumar   It was “Media Day” at Pune—yes, you read that right, the Royal Western India Turf Club actually remembered the media exists. A rare sight, considering most turf clubs treat reporters warmly only until someone dares to ask a question tougher than “How’s the buffet?” Newspaper coverage remains thinner than a jockey on a crash diet, but at least a couple of websites keep punters armed with the essentials: which horse is actually running and which favourite is about to scamper off with their money. In a sport where favourites rule the board, spotting the fake ones is the difference between walking away with a smile.   The 1000 metres Racingpulse.in Trophy was about as shocking as a politician swearing innocence. Bezan Chenoy’s Etoile, who had come close last time, ticked every box and this time let Anthony Raj coast him home with minimal drama. Adonis tried to stir things up but ran out...

  Punters Bled Dry While Turf Clubs Play Government   By Sharan Kumar   Indian turf clubs are perfecting the art of self-destruction. Instead of defending their sport, they’ve copied the government’s worst instinct—tax punters into oblivion—while ignoring illegal betting’s rapid rise. Entry fees soar, facilities crumble, and broadcast rights slip away. Tote revenues that once touched dizzying heights now limp along, while administrators chase champagne brunches over real reform. The result? Punters bled dry, clubs broke, and racing left gasping for breath.   The latest gem: GST on racing hiked to 40 per cent. The turf clubs’ response? A collective shrug. No protest, no attempt to explain how this move would strangle legal betting and fatten the black market. Silence—because why disturb their own comfort zones?   These are the same administrators who specialise in knee-jerk decisions, except when their perks are on the line. At the Royal Western I...

  Why We Worship the Whip in Horse Racing?   By Sharan Kumar   In Indian racing, the whip is treated with more reverence than a temple bell. To punters, it is the magic wand that guarantees victory. To stewards, it is the measuring stick of effort. To many jockeys, it is their passport to safety—because heaven forbid you lose a close finish without brandishing it like a cavalry sword.   The irony? The whip is not a miracle device. Once a horse is blowing hard and running on fumes, no amount of flailing can make it sprout an extra gear. As seasoned riders admit: “If he’s spent, he’s spent. No whip in the world can make him sprout wings.”   Yet our officials cling to their contradictions. In one infamous case at a premier jurisdiction, a jockey was actually pulled up for failing to use the whip—in a race where whips weren’t even allowed! The Stipes, it seemed, simply wanted to score a point against a trainer whose pattern of running horses always c...

  Time And Tide Staggers, Still Scrapes Through   By Sharan Kumar   Niraj Karanjawalla-trained Time And Tide finally managed to win the 1200 metres Akkasaheb Maharaj Trophy, a terms race for four-year-olds and over , the feature at Sunday’s Pune races — but not with his usual swagger. The favourite with 14 wins from 21 starts was expected to jog home like clockwork, but Pune has always been his Bermuda Triangle. Two defeats on this very track had already made him look mortal, and this time, though he “broke the jinx,” he did it more like someone sneaking past security rather than storming the gates.   Sandesh, in form but sweating bullets, had to throw the kitchen sink in the last stride to scrape past the gallant Magileto. Weight-conceding is something Time And Tide has turned into a hobby over the years, but this time he looked as though he had lost his usual spark. Magileto lost nothing in defeat, Credence who set the pace was reminded he doesn’t belo...

  Positano Finds His Mojo in Idar Trophy   By Sharan Kumar   Sulaiman Attaollahi-trained Positano has finally cultivated the winning habit. A horse who once specialised in running second to just about everyone has now stitched together a hat-trick, the latest being a stylish triumph in the 2400 metres Idar Gold Trophy, a terms race for four-year-olds and over , at Pune on Sunday. Of course, it helps when all those who used to beat you are either enjoying long vacations in the paddock or limping around elsewhere. But in racing as in life, you only beat who turns up — and Positano’s new favourite hobby is to benefit from the situation.   The betting market had the gall to put Duke of Tuscany on a pedestal, conveniently ignoring Positano’s higher rating and the weight advantage, all because the Attaollahi ward had a reputation for being allergic to the winning post. For a while, it looked like the old story was about to repeat itself, but Sandesh — playing...

  Online Gaming Bill will impact horse racing   By Sharan Kumar   The Lok Sabha’s passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 has been hailed by the government as a strike against addiction, crime, and financial ruin. But for horse racing, already a sport on life support, the move could well be the coup de grâce.   The bill takes the easy route of imposing a blanket ban on all real-money games , drawing no distinction between a game of skill like horse racing and pure games of chance. In one stroke, racing has been tossed into the same basket as fantasy leagues, poker dens, and online lotteries. The much-needed window of growth— online betting platforms that were beginning to steady turf clubs—has now been slammed shut.   Clubs like Hyderabad Race Club and Royal Calcutta Turf Club had begun reaping the benefits of online wagering, while others such as RWITC and Madras Race Club were finally taking baby steps in that ...

  Suraj wins at Ascot; creates history   By Sharan Kumar   In a feat never before achieved by an Indian rider, Suraj Narredu etched his name into racing history by guiding Fireblade to victory in the Shergar Cup Stayers (Handicap) at the world-famous Ascot Racecourse on Saturday. Not only was he making his debut in the prestigious Shergar Cup, he did so as captain of Team Asia —and led them to an unforgettable team championship win by the narrowest of margins.   For Suraj, who boasts over 2,400 career wins and more than 100 Indian Classics, this was the crowning jewel of a career that has conquered every major race on home soil. His victory at Ascot was named the “Ride of the Day,” earning him an additional trophy and the admiration of racing fans across continents.   It was fitting that the boy who once idolised Frankie Dettori—vowing to emulate the legendary jockey’s trademark flying dismount—found himself soaring in celebration on the very tu...

  Ashes and Echoes   In mother’s womb, we all arrive— No gold, no gems, no wealth to thrive. Though kings may reign with treasures grand, They leave it all with lifeless hands.   When death arrives, both rich and poor Must pass the same unguarded door. No coin, no note, no trusted friend Can follow where the journey ends.   The body burns, the ashes fall, And silence wraps around it all. What’s left behind, the world will claim— Another’s hands, another name.   It may be spent, it may be lost, The dead can’t question what it cost. But charity, when done with grace, Outlives the man—it holds its place.   A deed well done, a gift well given, Is wealth that walks the path to heaven. For better we share while we are here, Than leave it to those we never held dear.  

  The Quiet Company   I am not alone. Breath walks beside me, an old friend who knows when to hurry, when to slow, when to hush so I may listen to the quiet voice within. My heartbeat keeps me close, a drum in my chest that remembers every fear, every hope, each secret I’ve sworn to bury, each dream I’ve dared to hold. It keeps time for my wandering mind, calls me home when I drift. And even my loneliness stays, a quiet, faithful companion who settles in the corner of the room, never asking much, never leaving. It reminds me I am here, teaches me the art of listening to the hush between words, the vastness behind closed eyes. I am not alone. The wind speaks to me in sighs, The dark wraps me gently, The morning light breaks for me. I am my own witness, my own shelter, and somewhere in the silence I find company enough for this long and human road.

  Tunnel Road Project May Threaten BTC’s Future     By Sharan Kumar   The ambitious and controversial underground tunnel road connecting Central Silk Board to Hebbal may end up disrupting more than just surface traffic—it could seriously jeopardize the functioning of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC), especially if land abutting the backstretch of the racecourse is taken over, even temporarily.   Pitched as a game-changer for Bengaluru’s traffic woes, the ₹17,698-crore tunnel project is designed exclusively for four-wheeler traffic and will run entirely underground. But despite its scale and intent, critics have slammed it as an exorbitantly priced venture with limited utility—particularly when compared to the metro expansion, which promises broader connectivity at a fraction of the cost.   Nevertheless, the government is pressing ahead. Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE), the agency executing the project, has identified five locatio...

      Trainer Prasad Raju Joins 1,000-Win Club   By Tippu Sultan   Monday’s Hyderabad races will be etched in local turf history as the day trainer K S V Prasad Raju joined the elite club of Indian trainers to have saddled 1,000 career winners. The remarkable milestone was achieved in style when Sangreal, the firm favourite in the concluding race of the day, obliged with a commanding win—fittingly ridden by none other than Suraj Narredu, a long-time ally in Raju’s training journey.   What made the day even more special was that Prasad Raju saddled a treble, all piloted by Suraj, highlighting a partnership that has delivered countless winners over the years. With this feat, Raju joins fellow Hyderabad veterans Leo D’Silva, Donald Netto  and Vittal Deshmukh in the rarefied 1,000-win club.   Prasad Raju’s career, once considered solid but understated, surged in stature over the last two decades as he began receiving better quality...