Aabaji

About my grandfather who was leading jockey

Tags: Personalities

Aabaji

I have never met/seen my grandfather (Mother’s Father). He died before I was ever born. They say he was a great jockey but I never used to believe them because, generally, parents tell about their parents with some added Masala. But one day, while going through some old material at my Mom’s house I found a newspaper cutting dated 25th March 1943. It was from Sporting Times.

At the age of 26 Vithal Ramchandra Jadhav has joined the roles of leading jockey in western India. This Maratha lad apparently seed to Krishna Bapu, the Kolhapur trainer from his youth says he owes his success to encouragement and help given by the late Maharaja of Kolhapur and S. S. Akka Saheb Maharaj. Krishna Bapu must be given up the credit of providing with the opportunities to show his skill in the saddle, these readily grasped by Jadhav who early in his career demonstrated that he had the right temperament of a quiet disposition. Jadhav, he is not the type of man likely to be spoiled by success. In Madras, Maysor, Kolhapur, Pune and Bombay Jadhav has ridden winners which goes to show that all course scores come to him. This is the acid test of horsemanship.

By such a statement it is not meant to imply that Jadhav is a finished product and has nothing further to learn. He admits that he is gaining experience everyday and has picked up sub useful tips from the leading European professionals who are his colleagues.

He is the retainer offered to Jadhav by H. H. The Maharaja of Kashmir during the Bombay season brought the Indian jockey in to prominence. He had justified the confidence placed in him by winning the western India Cup on Pierot , RAF cup (division 2nd) on Limejuice, Army and Navy Cup on Engaged and Colaba Cup on Gloaming for his sporting pattern this season. Jadhav considers Gloaming to be the best horse he has ever ridden.

During the Madras season he won 11 races which included 3 cup events including Smokey Sea on which he scored at Mysor returned a dividend of RS 645. Others well known horses on which Jadhav has been successful are Farooq Pasha, Black Magic, Mark You, Salman Bar, Night Alarm, Toltec and Master Mint. He can go to scale at 7-7 and as he is strong at that weight. These services are much in demand. Jadhav career future will be watched with interest by racegoers on this side who are mighty pleased and see an Indian boy make it.

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Posted on 1st July 2007

Tags: Personalities
Updated on: 2007-07-01