The enduring charm of the Bangalore Derby

 The Mastermind Who Rewrote Indian Racing’s Script

 

By Sharan Kumar

 

One of India’s most accomplished and intellectually gifted racehorse trainers, Sadakshara Reuben Padmanabhan (71), passed away in Bengaluru on Sunday, (October 19 at 8 a.m.) after a valiant battle with illness. Fondly known as Paddy, he was a self-made man whose integrity, brilliance, and determination made him a towering figure in Indian racing. A relentless fighter on and off the turf, Padmanabhan’s legacy of excellence, courage, and principle will endure long after his final race. He rose from scratch to the very summit of Indian racing inspiring confidence of the racing fraternity.

 

Padmanabhan belonged to an elite league — one of only three trainers in India to have saddled over 100 Classic winners, the others being the late Rashid Byramji and the late Aris David. His rise to greatness came relatively late, but once the floodgates opened, there was simply no stopping him. Even while grappling with recurring health challenges over the last decade, he continued to send out winners with his trademark precision and flair. Over the course of his illustrious career, Paddy trained more than 1,000 winners, including around 200 Graded race victories. True to his philosophy, he always aimed for glory in the Classics, showing far greater interest in major races than in routine handicaps.

 

His crowning achievement was Desert God, the highest stakes earner in Indian racing history, a horse he bred, owned, and trained. Desert God’s glittering career — highlighted by victories in the Indian Derby, Indian Turf Invitation Cup, Deccan Derby, and Calcutta Derby — remains unmatched, a feat unlikely to be equalled given today’s reduced prize money and shorter racing careers.

 

Padmanabhan also trained three Indian Derby winners — In The Spotlight, Hall of Famer, and Desert God — apart from a string of champions such as Becket, Borsalino, and Sir Cecil, among many others. His career bridged eras — from the dominance of Rashid Byramji to the current reign of Pesi Shroff — and yet, through every generation, Paddy’s horses demanded respect and often stunned when it mattered most.

 

Remarkably, even in the recently concluded Bangalore Summer Season, he produced eight winners and a Derby third with Miracle Star, a horse bred by him — proof that his genius remained undiminished.

 

Beyond training, Padmanabhan wore many hats with distinction. As a bloodstock agent, he was responsible for importing stallions such as Royal Kingdom and others that left their mark on Indian breeding. He was also an accomplished breeder and owner, often combining all three roles to remarkable success — a rare feat in modern racing.

 

Internationally respected, Padmanabhan was India’s most recognized racing figure abroad, often seen exchanging ideas with global greats like Sir Henry Cecil. Top international jockeys — Frankie Dettori, Richard Hughes, Christophe Lemaire, Martin Dwyer, and David Allan — have all donned his silks. Of them, David Allan shared a decade-long partnership that yielded a record number of Classic triumphs for a foreign jockey in India.

 

Padmanabhan’s leadership extended off the track as well — he served as an office-bearer of the Karnataka Trainers Association, Indian Racehorse Trainers Association, and the Karnataka Racehorse Owners Association, and was honoured as a Permanent Invitee by the Turf Authorities of India.

 

Padmanabhan was not a man to take things lying down when he saw injustice being done. Fiercely principled and unafraid of consequences, he stood up for what he believed was right — even when it meant financial loss or jeopardizing his own career. His moral compass never wavered. When he was unfairly suspended in Bangalore, Padmanabhan fought back through the legal route and won the battle, restoring not just his licence but, more importantly, his honour. It was a victory that summed up the man — fearless, uncompromising, and unwavering in integrity.

 

Behind his success stood his wife, Sharmila Padmanabhan, his steadfast support and the unseen pillar who handled the complex coordination with owners and officials, allowing Paddy to focus entirely on his horses and his craft.

 

Paddy was more than a great trainer — he was a thinker, innovator, and mentor. His methods were logical, data-driven, yet instinctive — earning him the title “Programmed to Succeed” in one memorable feature. His deep understanding of pedigree, training, and psychology made him a master of precision.

 

In his passing, Indian racing has lost its last great all-rounder, a man whose intellect, passion, and quiet dignity elevated the profession. His legacy will not fade — it gallops on, etched forever in the story of Indian turf.