The Hindu : Sport : Racing memorabilia on show

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Sport - Sports : General

Racing memorabilia on show

A. Joseph Antony

Lester Piggott's goggles at Hyderabad Race Club Museum

— Photo: Nagara Gopal

The riding goggles of the legendary Lester Piggott, considered the greatest jockey ever, on display at the Hyderabad Race Club Museum in Malakpet, Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD: Lester Piggott's goggles could well be the pride of the Hyderabad Race Club (HRC) Racing Museum, the only one of its kind in the country. Nicknamed the ‘Long Fellow,' the Englishman, perhaps the greatest jockey ever, recorded a whopping 4493 wins in his riding career that included nine Derby triumphs.

The concept of collecting such artefacts is the brainchild of R. Surender Reddy, the HRC's Chairman. From a modest size, the collection has been growing gradually in response to Mr. Reddy's requests to the racing enthusiasts to donate memorabilia with a view to popularising the sport. Training doyen R.R. Byramji has heeded his call and donated ‘Famous horses of the British turf 1919-23,' the prized Arthur W. Coaten-edited book series.

Antique brass stirrups, bits, hanging bits, wolf tooth removers, snaffles, a euthaniser and an enema pump adorn the museum wall, and are tastefully showcased and illuminated. Photographs of the Grandstand at Malakpet, 1892, take visitors back to days of the Nizam and the British Raj. A black and white portrait of the Mahbub Grandstand at the Fateh Maidan is also on display.

The riding colours of leading owners, mostly from the princely states, ornament another wall, and include those of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar, the Raja of Bobbili, the Yuvaraja of Mysore, the Maharajas of Rajpipla, Kolhapur and Parlakimedi.

Other interesting exhibits include, Suresh Mahindra's binoculars, a 1939 issue of Bloodstock Breeders Review, badges, results of races held on December 4, 6, 9 and 11, 1873, legendary Indian jockey Robin Corner's national colours, worn during the International Invitational Derby at Perth, Sinclair Marshall's saddle worn on the champion horse, Chaitanya Chakram.

A fine collection of books and journals is arranged neatly against another wall. Among them is an interesting tome on the adventures of the sports writing's senior statesman, Simon Barnes, during his stay in a reputed British stable.

The exhibits seem to have gone done well with race-goers, comments in the visitor's book show.

Compliments have come from Lynn Deas, Editor, Racing World magazine and D.R. Johnson of the Daily Express, who were here for the Turf Invitation Cup last year.

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