… and God took a handful of Southerly wind, blew his breath over it, and created the horse.” ~ Bedouin Legend
Last Sunday I was invited for a popular race event called the S. A. Poonawalla Multi-Millions and went along to experience the dynamics that emerge in these races. It is interesting to observe not only the horses and their mounts, but equally so the spectators, the bookies and speculators.
Horse racing is a highly rated sport all over the world as a glamorous event. Such is the allure that movie stars, celebrities and socialites spend thousands on designer outfits, champagne flows, and millions of dollars are staked on the outcome of races.
Even though I am not a regular horse racing enthusiast I do love to look and admire the magnificence and nobility of horses.
In a small way I too had enjoyed the thrill and adventure of horse riding during my military training days but not thereafter. I still remember an interesting practice followed at the end of a formal riding lesson, an order is given to ‘Make much of your horses’, which means stroke your respective horses with quiet caresses
I would love to share some pictures I took at the races and some nice quotes to go with each.
“There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse.” ~ Robert Smith Surtees
“A racehorse is an animal that can take several thousand people for a ride at the same time”.
“Any horse can win on any given day” ~ Angel Cordero, Jr.
“The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears” ~ An Arabian proverb
“A good rider can hear his horse speak to him, a great rider can hear his horse whisper, but a bad rider won’t hear his horse even if it screams at him”.
If you wish to understand the finer points of a horse race you are welcome to read Turfway Park at http://www.turfway.com/horseracing.asp
Cheers and have a great day! 🙂
I like to draw horses when I see a race. In france last summer I saw Toulouse Lautrec’s paintings of horses in Albi. He could draw and paint horses like a dream. It shows how many hours were dedicated to looking at the form of a horse. BTW you are Manu’s friend! I just figured that out. Thank you for visiting my blog. Carla
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Welcome! Beautiful comments from you especially about the Toulouse Lautrec’s paintings of horses. Oh yes Manu is a wonderful blogger and I enjoy his post. Cheers and kind regards 🙂
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[…] on September 26, 2012 in Inspirational quotes, Inspirational Wellness & […]
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Beautiful combination of quotes and photographs. I love your tribute to the horse and exploration of our relationship!
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Your appreciation means a lot. Thanks.
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Autistic people are often helped by being around horses. My son is afraid of all large animals but will gladly walk up to a horse. I think that the horse and autistic people have the same language. At least they bond in some way.
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How beautiful to know of this special bond. I feel ourselves become more kind and compassionate if we make time to connect with animals – they are so trusting and innocent. Many good wishes to your little son and to you.
Kind regards.
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Great post Dilip! Horses are magnificent creatures.
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Kind words from you Margie! Many thanks and best wishes coming your way!
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I like the photos of the event 🙂
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Nice of you to appreciate. Regards & cheers 🙂
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Lovely words you began this post with! I’ve never been to a horse race, but I’m sure I won’t enjoy it if ever I get myself to one. A horse is such a noble animal–I feel it’s demeaning to them to be betted upon…
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I do feel your reservations on ‘betting on horses’ is understandable and I too endorse it. Animals when free are always so much more beautiful.
Thanks for your frank views Hema.
Cheers 🙂
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I could say, i watched my first horse race through u
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Ha ha good one! Thanks a lot for dropping by!
Cheers 🙂
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What nice digital photos! Thanks for sharing. http://www.segmation.wordpress.com
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Stunning photography my friend I love it 🙂
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Dear Jake its so nice of you to appreciate! And thanks for stopping bye.
Cheers 🙂
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I feel that in my part of the world, Horse riding as a sport has declined. Earlier it was big, but these days just there… I personally don’t prefer this sport, I don’t know why!
Destination Infinity
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Howdy and welcome! I respect and appreciate your feelings on horse-racing as a sport. Perhaps that is why this sport is dwindling away. Thanks for dropping by.
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Never got a chance to see all this, but going through this post was like watching the whole thing….thanks for sharing and the fotos are very clear n distinct too….thank you.
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Thanks for your kind words Irfan. And glad you liked it. With kind regards to you.
Cheers 🙂
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I agree with you 100 percent! Great photos! Thanks for sharing them..;)
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Welcome Alana and I know (from your blog) that you too are fond of these lovely animals horses and pets included!
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Yes! My Ara has the same form as horses do – so I’m
reminded of these lovely and graceful creatures everyday.
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Yes yes I understand perfectly well. I wish young Ara good health and loads of fun 🙂
Cheers!
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Thank you! Take care! Cheers!
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These are beautiful photographs. I love horses. However, I don’t like the way they are cruelly trained. I’ve seen them whipped at the Mahalakshmi race course… but I guess the trainers do know what they are doing. I am sure, if badly treated the horse would not like to put in his best efforts and win the race.
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Right Lubna I am with you on that. I would never like to be harsh on any animal. When we trained our dog Leo we were told “don’t be harsh be firm”! As a pup the maximum was a light tap with a newspaper roll. But when he grew-up we treated him with the respect – which he commanded.
Thnaks & cheers 🙂
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interesting pictures and quotes..Once i fell from a horse and since then I am scared of riding them:)
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Glad you liked the post. I too have have been tossed from a horse during training 🙂 Here’s a nice Mexican quote “It is not enough for a man to know how to ride; he must know how to fall.
Cheers!
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This actually sums up a brilliant philosophy for living!
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🙂
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Horses are pretty majestic animals. I always wanted one as a kid (tail end of the TV cowboy show era) but never got one.
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Me too! But perhaps an era before yours – I loved to read western comics and see the wild-west in movies too Buffaloe Bill and all 🙂
Thanks & cheers.
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Interesting. I didn’t know if Westerns were much of a thing in India or not.
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🙂 In my visit to Texas a few years ago I felt good relating to my kid-day memories 🙂
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The Poonawalla’s Club Pics.. its really amazing and want to the part of that interesting game. Poonawalla is genius, In the young of horse he use them in race and in mid of their life he use them to make vaccines.
FAB & ROYAL GAME
Regards
Vedant
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Ha Ha Vedant I am sure you will enjoy it! Yes they are doing very well in business – The Serum Research Institute which is famous for its ethical practices too.
Cheers!
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Dear Sir
The fact of SERUM RESEARCH INSTITUTE that 1 out of every 2 children immunized worldwide gets at least one vaccine produced by Serum Institute.
SALUTE TO SRI TEAM.. MADE US PROUD!!
Regards
Vedant
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Good one Vedant you saw the inspiration underlying the Poonawalla Races theme. Oh yes your Gravatar with you on a horse is awesome and a perfect fit 🙂
Cheers my friend thanks for riding bye 🙂
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Thank you for your kind compliments.
I am a Big Fan of Vijay Mallaya, Poonawalla, Sir Brandson, last but not least Mr. Donald Trump, all are well known for their Luxury Style of doing Business.
Cheers!!
Vedant 🙂
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Vedant we must put-up some piece ob Luxury Brands in India. With your experience it will be interesting.
Cheers & best. 🙂
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What lovely pics! A racing horse is truly magnificence in motion!
Very apt quotes to go with the photos too! 🙂
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Glad you liked the pictures Manju. Ya the quotes got well connected too 🙂
Thanks and Cheers 🙂
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Horse is such a magnificant warm creature..loved the shots Dilip 🙂
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I am so glad you liked the photos Soma. Yes its true a horse is magnificient. When you have the time do watch the famous movie “Sea Biscuit” its thrilling! Cheers.
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My earliest lessons of ‘not knowing how to give up and to keep going on come what may’ were after watching a movie called ‘Hidalgo’….as a principle i still watch it when i need that strength, courage and push….Naidu Sir…thanks for this post…im going to go back to my movies library tonight.
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Hi Saman I too love to draw courage from such movies and even from inspirational sayings of wise people. I look forward to view the movie Hidago earliest.
Thank you and kind regards. Cheers 🙂
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Beautiful pictures and lovely quotes, Sir! Thank you!
I love the way Robert Frost has portrayed the intelligence of a horse here:
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening-2/
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
And I like this quote by Winston Churchill:
“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
And while I am not a big fan of Danielle Steel, I remember that very many years ago, I enjoyed reading some parts of her book, Palomino. Especially the part where physically challenged children are taught to ride horses in order to encourage their recovery.
Thanks and regards,
Geetha
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Hi Geetha … loved the poem and the Churchill quote. But what I found touching was the part mentioned in Danieele Steels book.
Many thanks for the nice inputs.
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Only my friend Dilip Naidu can see an event like this in such captivating way. You have a special knack to see things in this perspective. Thanks a lot. RLS
Sent from my iPad
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Dear Roshan you do have a way with words – thank you my friend! Trust you are enjoying your holiday!
Cheers!
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I have one thing to say its the horse who runs and does all the hard work yet the money and name go to owner and jockey..
Horses are beautiful animals and I love them I wonder why animal rights peopke dont sat anything against this sport..
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Oh yes Bikram … I too have my views on the ethics part of racing and horses. But seeing the majestic animal in full flow made me overlook the same. Here’e waht Mark Twain has to say “If the horses knew their strength we should not ride anymore”.
Cheers 🙂
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My father’s father was a jockey in Rome. The purse for the jockey for a race he won was a ticket to America. That’s how father’s side got to America.
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How interesting Carl! Just imagine a ticket to a whole new world and life.
Thanks be well. Cheers 🙂
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