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| Saturday, 12 April 2003 |
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Promising future for horse racing by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya From 1950 to 1960's horse racing in Sri Lanka caught up due to the untiring efforts of its pioneers, and all thanks should go to enthusiasts like Rajan Sellamuthu, Devinda Senanayake, Anurath Abeyratne and several others. In the past few years, the Sri Lanka Turf Club, the one and the only club has grown, and has a promising future, where nearly a thousand will be gainfully employed. When the press met Rajan Sellamuthu, at his club in Nuwara Eliya he was working tirelessly together with his stalwarts making arrangements for the 'big and grand' April seasonal racing on April 6, 10, 14 the Governor's cup, 19 and 26 at the height of the April festivities. He said horse racing has come to stay in a very big way from scratches, and already there were eighty five thoroughbred racing horses in the stables vying for supremacy at the forthcoming races. During the glorious days of racing in this country 1950's and 1960's there were a number of thoroughbred horses with 100 jockeys, including about 50 to 60 trainees, and a long workforce numbering a thousand in three stables in Colombo, Boossa in Galle and in Nuwara Eliya. There were a number of foreign jockys including L. Smith, Tim Sawyet, Ted Fodyce, Tim Fatty and others. Rajan Sellamuthu said that in the recent past Indian jockys have been participating and during the April season about 8 to 10 Indian jockeys will participate and already about four of them have arrived in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, leading horse racing enthusiasts like Dr. M. A. M. Ramaswamy, the Raj of Chattinad, who has nearly 1200 horses in India, and Vijaya Malaya of Bangalore and many other reputed horse owners in India have shown keen interest in our Turf club. Rajan Sellamuthum said there was ample potential with the up and coming youngsters in this world famous sport in Sri Lanka, particularly among the young jockeys. He said from the bygone days, when horse racing was a thriving industry in Nuwara Eliya, the skills of steering the high speed thoroughbreds has been a tradition handed down from father to son. Sellamuthu says Nigel Austin has been a leading owner over the years in Crossbred and Thoroughbred racing. Young Ashok Kumar from the stable has booted home many a winner and won the coveted title of jockey of the season in April, 2002 after winning the Governor's cup on Ancient Warrior. He says in addition regular visits to Sri Lanka were Indian jockeys V. Gharat, Rahul Shirnde and S. Rajesh. Adding to their numbers this April is Aslam Koder, a household name in the racing world of India riding for the Monaro Stables. Jockey Shinde has been the leading jockey at the Hyderabad Winter meeting with 46 wins. He is no stranger to racing here as he won the Governors Cup in 1999 on Garasbandol for Chandran Ratnam. He rides this year for Devinda Senanayake. Vijay Gharat riding for Dr. M. S. Noohu, who won the Governor's Cup in 2001 on Emperado. S. Rajesh a rider from Mumbai is hoping to the trophies for Anurath Abeyratne. |
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