The Hindu : Sport : S. Rangarajan — the country's acknowledged bloodstock analyst

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 09, 2007
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Sport

S. Rangarajan — the country's acknowledged bloodstock analyst

S.N. Harish

— File Photo

HORSE LOVER: S. Rangarajan (right) and trainer Darius Byramji leading in Forest Rose (Appu up), winner of the Byerly Turk Stakes in 2002.

The lyf so short; the craft so long to learn. Chaucer's words are apt to describe S. Rangarajan's brilliance in his chosen field of endeavour. He was undoubtedly India's acknowledged bloodstock analyst and an authority on conformation of horses. Rangarajan spent all his life studying the bloodlines of the world. He passed away on Thursday at his home in Chennai.

He was more interested in the horses and their bloodlines and would endlessly debate whether a particular horse had the classic potential or not. Nine out of 10 times he would get it right.

There is no doubt that Rangarajan was a master in his craft. He owned fabulous horses, such as Horatius, Rose of Tudor, Fair Court, to mention just a few, but the irony is that he never had the gratification of leading in multiple classic winners. Whenever questions were posed to him as to why he had sold off such lovely horses, in his own philosophical way, he would brush it off by saying that perhaps he was not destined to lead in classic winners and not lucky enough.

Magnanimous gesture

Rangarajan was passionately involved in tennis, cricket and above all horse racing. To cite an instance, when Madras Race Club decided to host the Invitation Cup, it was Rangarajan's magnanimous gesture in sponsoring a major event which set the ball rolling. It was not just for racing, but whenever a request came for a music festival or for an educational cause, Rangappa, as he was fondly called by his friends, lent a helping hand, living up to the true traditions of The Hindu family.

Rangarajan's eye for a horse was legendary and this bears eloquent testimony to his great exploits on the Indian Turf. He was the most sought after person in every annual auction sale by owners, breeders and friends seeking his advise and he was ever willing to not only offer his expertise, but also rattle off the four generations of pedigree, which he appeared to have on his finger tips. For a connoisseur, it was an exhilarating experience to listen to a master.

Rangarajan was equally at home in breeding some of the best families of kennels in India and was an internationally acknowledged kennel judge. Rangarajan globetrotted judging major events across continents.

Rangarajan was also a proud owner of a champion whippet, Shalfleet Showman of Courthill, popularly known as Saga, a dog that still holds the Indian record after finishing the Best in Show in 14 Kennel Club of India dog shows.

Though Rangarajan's journey has ended, his yeoman service to the world of journalism and sport will never be forgotten.

Tributes

His love of horses was simply unbelievable. Certainly the greatest judge of horses in India — Ameeta Mehra

He was humane and an exceptional judge of racehorses and truly a great friend — Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy

Our long association spans for over 40 years. His eye for a horse is legendary. It is one of the ironies of life that he was not able to taste success, as he would have! It is a mystery. — Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla.

He was without any doubt the greatest judge of horseflesh and kennels and seem to have five golden fingers when he selected a horse.

This is best exemplified when he chose Fair Heaven and Rock Heaven — Mr. Zavaray S. Poonawalla.

His love for the sport is immeasurable and was last of the sporting owners — Mr. R. Ramakrishnan.

He was an outstanding judge of horses and his love for the animal was simply awesome — Behrooze Poonawalla.

The racing world has lost a great friend. He added colour, grace and brought in new dimension to the sport by corporate sponsorship — Mr. Marilingaiah, Chairman, Bangalore Turf Club Ltd.

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