Nowadays horse races are seen as a taboo with hardly anyone from the young generation showing interest in them. However, the history of this intriguing sport goes back a long way, and it continues to be closely tied to the government, with events like the President of India Gold Cup honoring its significance.
In 1961, Hyderabad Race Club started its operations in Secunderabad, bringing a new thrilling sport to the region. However, in 1968, when the aces were revived under the club, its operations shifted to Malakpet. Upon the shifting of the operations, a new race was introduced to this sport in India known as the President of India Gold Cup.
This race, which was once a Grade 1 event dedicated to the President of India, was open to all horses. The winner of the inaugural running of the President of India Gold Cup that took place in 1970 was Nice Fells, ridden by jockey Brian Foy. The then-President of India, V.V. Giri, personally awarded the trainer of the winning horse, Mangalkorar, with the Gold Cup
In 1974, The President of India Gold Cup was upgraded to a Terms race, adding certain limits to the race such as gender, age etc. As a result, the race was restricted to 4 year old horses or older, to run over the distance of 2400 mts. However, in 2018, the race was downgraded to Grade 2. Additionally, the conditions of the race were also changed from a weight-for-age contest (where the weight carried by each horse is determined by their age and other factors) to a race with penalties (where horses are given additional weight based on certain criteria, such as previous wins or performance).
The 54th President of India Gold Cup (Gr. 2) held in Hyderabad was the major attraction among all the races that took place on September 15, 2024. The competition was fierce, but the victory was claimed by Geographique, a mare trained by Imtiaz Sait and ridden by jockey Suraj Narredu.
Horse racing in India has been a topic of debate for more than a decade, largely due to concerns about animal cruelty. While some view horse racing as an exploitation of these intelligent and graceful animals, others argue that it significantly contributes to both the sports industry and the economy. Additionally, they contend that horses can lead a comfortable life, often living luxuriously even after retirement.
