The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Horse : Rangarajan inducted into racing Hall of Fame

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 08, 2005

Sport

Sport - Racing : Horse

Rangarajan inducted into racing Hall of Fame

By Anil Mukhi

CHENNAI, MARCH 7. At a colourful ceremony held at the Madras Race Club's Guindy Lodge on Saturday night, the Chevrolet Racing Awards for excellence on the Indian Turf were distributed. Each award recognizes and honours the achievements of the awardee in different facets during the year gone by.

The hour-long ceremony was scripted by Mr. S.N. Harish and compered in his inimitable fashion by Cyrus J. Madan. Mr. Ankush Arora of General Motors India, Chevrolet Division, gave away the coveted crystal glass trophies, all imported from Ireland, in the distinguished presence of the Chairmen of the individual turf authorities in the country.

Triumphant in the category of Leading Trainer was Chennai's own Robert Foley, while in the category of Leading Jockey, as expected Prakash Bhosle came out on top. As the country's largest investor in bloodstock, Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy was expected to top the list and duly took home the honours in the category of Leading Owner. Incidentally, all three repeated their successes of the previous year.

There was a change in the identity of Leading Stud Farm: this time around the award went to the Usha and Mehra Group of Stud Farms, whose Managing Director, Ms. Ameeta Mehra, accepted it in person.

All the awardees took their turn at the microphone to thank the organizers and the sponsors.

It is traditional to nominate one individual from the host centre, whose universal contribution to the sport of horse racing is being recognized, for induction into the Hall of Fame. It was most fitting that this year the jury's selection fell on Mr. S. Rangarajan, Managing Director of The Hindu, who has had a lifelong association with the sport.

Showering encomiums on "Rangappa", as he is popularly known, for his superb judgment of horseflesh, Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy, Chairman, Turf Authorities of India, praised Mr. Rangarajan's contribution to racing and confessed that it was the encouragement given by him that finally persuaded the Madras Race Club to agree to host the Invitation Cup one year in advance of its rightful turn.

A colourful fireworks display, a cultural show and dinner rounded off the evening's festivities.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport