B R Sharan Kumar

  Echoes of the Last Gallop: Racing Faces Uncertain Future   By Sharan Kumar   A centuries-old tradition galloped through the heart of Chennai, once giving the city a regal charm that only horse racing could bestow. The Madras Race Course at Guindy wasn’t just a patch of land; it was a living relic of colonial legacy, a social institution that seamlessly blended sport, culture, and community. Today, that legacy stands precariously at the edge of extinction — displaced not with ceremony or closure, but with silence.   Nearly ten months have elapsed since the Tamil Nadu government reclaimed the iconic 160-acre Guindy campus, abruptly terminating the Madras Race Club’s 74-year lease. A glimmer of hope emerged when the government proposed alternative land in Hosur — a gesture that briefly reassured stakeholders that the sport and the livelihoods tethered to it might endure. However, as the months roll on, that hope is fast fading. No formal agreement has been...

  Sovereign King Silences the Whiners, Reigns Supreme   By Sharan Kumar   Adhirajsingh Jodha’s Sovereign King once again galloped into the limelight—not just as a thoroughbred of class, but as a monarch who doesn’t need a PR agency or a WhatsApp tribunal of aggrieved co-owners to cry foul on his behalf. The son of Top Class, bred at Mukteshwar Stud Farm, showed that regal bloodlines trump noisy lamentations, as he captured the Gr 1 Zavaray Poonawalla Colts Championship—the second classic of the Bangalore Summer Season—in a finish fit for streaming drama. Jockey Anthony Raj, unfazed by the turbulence of a 16-horse tangle and a run-in with Stormy Sea (both the horse and the chaos), produced a ride worthy of applause.   Sovereign King ran into all sorts of trouble—rough weather, shuffled positions, traffic jams that would put Silk Board in Bangalore which is a nightmare for those using the area, to shame—but unlike some others, he didn’t file an FIR or write...

  Supernatural Stalls, Ranquelino Steals the Show   By Sharan Kumar   Dual Derby winner Ranquelino , trained by Darius Byramji, did precisely what was expected of a horse that had seemingly read the script—he showed up, lined up, and galloped off with the Gr 2 1800 metres Chief Justice’s Cup, a race that usually promises a thriller but this time proved to be a damp squib.   Enter Supernatural , from the stables of Pesi Shroff, once a crown jewel with a Summer Derby to his name. Having run a decent third in his return outing—despite what experts diplomatically termed a "leisurely start"—many punters, ever the hopeful romantics, believed that with one race under his girth, he'd be ready to exorcise more than a year of winless existence.   But here’s the rub: Supernatural had seen better days and had been sidelined by many niggles. Wind surgery (the equine version of CPAP therapy), and a general allergy to winning. Still, the power of branding is re...

   Fynbos Springs to Life – As the Season Sleepwalks Along   By Sharan Kumar In a season where the thrill of racing seems to be held hostage, Fynbos finally gave fans something to cheer—well, at least momentarily. After a forgettable opening act where she wilted tamely behind Sovereign King , the Pesi Shroff-trained filly decided to remind us why hype can sometimes be justified. In a field large, jockey Trevor Patel gave a textbook ride—one Shroff himself would approve of—navigating the traffic like a pro cabbie in Mumbai, then cruising past her only serious rival, Bishop , in the final furlong.   Yes, in racing, the logic is often upside down: the bigger the field, the clearer the outcome. Fynbos flopped in a cozy field and then aced this crowded mess. Go figure.   Fynbos' win was particularly pleasing not just because she finally lived up to her bloodlines—being a full sister to Zuccaro , who bloomed fashionably late—but because she did it on ...

  BTC Membership Bonanza: From ‘Free-Dom’ to ‘Fee-Doom’   By Sharan Kumar   The Bangalore Turf Club, once the exclusive playground of those who heroically battled for every free cup of tea, complimentary snack, and an entire buffet of privileges, has now taken a dramatic U-turn—straight into the toll lane. The government, clearly in no mood for nostalgia, has trotted in with its stamp of approval, allowing the Club to expand its membership from a snug 350 to a potentially stampeding 1,350 . And with that, comes a plot twist so rich in drama. What was once a haven for freebie warriors now finds itself facing the harsh reality of spreadsheets, GST, and that most dreaded phrase— monthly deductions .   In a dramatic special general body meeting this May—where the mic system sputtered and whispers of conspiracy echoed louder than any official address—the Articles of Association were duly amended, reshaped, and discreetly mumbled about into whisky glasses. The...

  Season Loses Its Spark as One-Sided Races Dominate   By Sharan Kumar   The Bangalore Summer Season, once known for edge-of-the-seat finishes and fiercely fought battles down the final furlong, has been a pale shadow of its glorious past. Competitive racing, the hallmark of a robust season, has gone AWOL—replaced by a monotonous parade of one-sided contests that have offered little by way of thrill, drama, or betting intrigue.   Save for the occasional blip, most races thus far have resembled glorified gallops, with winners often cantering home unchallenged. It’s not just the lack of competition that’s troubling—it's also the curious betting trends that have raised eyebrows. Horses with modest credentials are attracting floods of money, while genuine contenders drift to long odds, leaving punters thoroughly disoriented. The trusty compass of ‘favourite-following’ has become more of a roulette wheel, with form and logic often taking a backseat.   ...

       BTC’s Divine Ratings: When Ego Trumps Evidence   By Sharan Kumar   The Bangalore Turf Club’s handicapper appears to operate on a celestial plane — far removed from the realm of logic, evidence, or even basic arithmetic. From the latest communication issued by BTC Secretary Kiran, one can only conclude that the handicapper believes his ratings are not just accurate but divinely inspired, infallible, and, above all, unquestionable.   Take the case of Zuri and Emphatic — two Bangalore-based horses who clashed during the Invitation Cup weekend in March at Chennai. Zuri carried 54 kgs (including a half-kilo overweight) while Emphatic carried 53 kgs. Mayne Magic, also from Bangalore, won the race, with Zuri finishing a close second — a short head ahead of Emphatic. You’d think this tight finish under level conditions would prompt a reassessment of the ratings by any reasonable handicapper. But not at BTC, where stubbornness is a virt...

  Handicapping Rulebook Needs Its Own Handicap By Sharan Kumar   While browsing through Sunday’s race card, one particular entry demands a second look — the eighth race of the day, the 1400 metres Mystic Memory Plate , meant for horses rated 40 to 65. On the surface, it appears like any other handicap race. But dig a little, and you’ll find logic has clearly gone out for a trot. The beaten horse carries a heavier burden, while the victor saunters in with a lighter load. It's a bit like failing an exam and getting promoted anyway — while the topper is asked to repeat the class.   The handicapping throws up a textbook example of how racing logic can sometimes be a casualty of systemic rigidity.   Two familiar contenders — Zuri and Emphatic — last clashed in the Olympia Tech Park Million at Chennai, a proper handicap race where both carried weights according to their respective ratings. Zuri carried 54 kgs, Emphatic 53. Zuri edged out Emphatic by a short...