ARC Gymkhana Races

GYMKHANA RACES

GYMKHANA RACES

Gymkhana Race Dates for 2006

1st Day – Saturday, April 15, 2006
2nd Day – Sunday, April 16, 2006
3rd Day – Saturday, April 22, 2006
4th Day – Sunday, April 23, 2006
5th Day – Saturday, April 29, 2006
6th Day – Sunday, April 30, 2006

HISTORY OF ARC GYMKHANA RACES

The Amateur Riders’ Club (ARC) was formed in Bombay in 1942 and has developed into a perennial source for developing horsemen. Over the years it has given Indian racing Karl Umrigar, Vasant Shinde, Deepak, Pesi Shroff, Marosh Irani and a host of others. Outlined below is a brief history of ARC’s inception.

Vithal Mehta a short little man full of verve and vitality apart from being an excellent rider as well as a horseman conceived the idea of an Amateur Riders’ Club himself. His dream of setting up such a club took concrete shape in May 1942. The diminutive Vithal was one of the regulars at the nearby hill station of Matheran where one could see that everybody rode morning noon and night. During one such ride he spoke about his idea to Mr.Hormasjee Vakil (grandfather of Karl Umrigar and Pesi Shroff) and Mr. Keki Unrigar. One can take it that the ARC came into being at that time in May 1942 in Matheran. – Though the Sports Club and its events were always Bombay based.

Mr. Vakil being a lawyer himself framed the constitution with the then Chief Justice of Bombay Sir John Beaumont, a keen horsemen himself and then going on to become the first President of the ARC.

Initially the sports were held jointly in collaboration with the Bombay Hunt Club, then an active organization in Bombay. As the ARC began to pick up its tempo there were others like Pravin Gandhi, E B Ghasvala, R C Vin, Dr S R Captain, Mr C.C.Choksi and Sir N J Wadia who lent valuable support.

The Bombay Hunt Club held one Gymkhana Race Meeting every year and from April 1945, and the ARC shared the proceeds equally as the Gymkhanas were conducted jointly. The year 1946 saw three Gymkhana Race Meets, 1947 saw five and from 1990 onwards seven race days. While the Bombay Hunt Club members were racing every year till 1948, there was a hurdle race (2400meters over eight 4 ½ feet fences) a handicap race that called for ability and endurance from both horse and rider. This was a true test of horsemanship, which is sadly missing today.

Since the inception of the Gymkhanas there have been many changes in the type of horseflesh and the quality of riders. The general standard though has deteriorated over the past decade though the approach to the game remains much the same. The horses that the amateur rider rode in those days were 16 hands high (H H Walers Australian Horses, and 15hh English thoroughbreds and the highly bred sleek Arab the most sure-footed and fast animal of amazing ability and endurance.

The major change in the elimination of the small pony class below 13 h h. One feels that this class need not have been eliminated then as it helped very young riders and these very young riders are what are necessary to build good professionals. Late riding beginners are handicapped as generally after the age of 12 the spontaneity and natural adjustment of the body or the reflexes and movements of the horse are difficult.

Not only has the Gymkhanas produced riders but also owners like Abdul Razaak Rassool who helped Karl Umrigar and Pesi Shroff a lot on their way to becoming champion riders. Other prominent owners and riders include Dr. S M Mody, Dinku Chenoy,Dr. S R Captain, Mr. S H Captain (father of the first lady jockey on India – Ayeshya Captain) Ms. Mehru Dubash, Mrs Tehmina Shroff, Mrs Nanny Umrigar Mr. D H Dhunjibhoy, T D Bhujbal, Mr. Moizz Kara, Mr Azmat Khan, Mr Kishore Khakhar, Mr. S M Bhoj and not to forget Matheran owners like Baban Kadam and Ebrahim.

Last but not the least a mention must be made of Mr. Jimmy S Bharucha, the one great man whose contribution to the success of the gymkhanas, the ARC, and to horsemanship in its complete sense is of great value and is priceless.