Muthappa Rai keen on buying pedigree race horses in Ireland
By: Ikram Khan
The social activist who has 40 horses in training, feels it is a good investment
Spurred by the success of Bangalore boy Kaleem Shah, the owner of Bayern, the winner of America's richest $5 million race in Santa Anita, California and a couple of big victories registered by theCyrus Poonawalla owned Gordon Lord Byron including his victory in the Qipco British Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot earlier, Muthappa Rai , who has 40 horses in training with five trainers at the Bangalore Turf Club, is keen on purchasing a few quality horses in Ireland and racing them on the English and Irish racing circuit.
Muthappa Rai, once upon a time a big name in underworld circles who was acquitted in all cases, feels that making investments on the international circuit provides a favourable window for Indian racing and the returns on investment are good if you pick up a good horse.
Rai who continues to invest big in the animal he loves most revealed that his dream is to lead in a Bangalore and Indian Derby winner in Mumbai and he will keep chasing his dream till the day one of his horses gallops home to wear the Derby sash.
“It provided me immense joy when I learnt that Kaleem Shah owned Bayern won the Breeders Cup championship. For Kaleem it was a dream come true and I'm also looking to realise my dream in the years ahead,” he said, pointing out that his passport problem has put the brakes on the plans and designs he has to become an international horse owner.
“My passport is in the custody of the police and they believe the moment I go out I will not return to India. It is a silly argument taking into account that all my business establishments including the 200-acre cultivated agricultural land and my organisation Jaya Karnataka are very much in Bengaluru. What sense does it make to leave your business empire and stay in a foreign country,” he asked.
Delighted that his brother Chandrashekar Rai on his Ireland trip, was invited to the famed Coolmore Stud Farm, Rai revealed that he had roped in a young British jockey Neil Thomas Farley from Yorkshire for the Bangalore winter season. “We have a couple of promising youngsters who will make their debut and we needed a good young jockey and I managed to rope in Neil who is enjoying a good stint in Ireland and England,” said the sports lover who sponsors the popular buffalo racing at his native place Puttur and is the president of the Karnataka Bodybuilding Association.
When asked what he thought of BTC's decision to pursue the Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the shifting of the club outside the city in Supreme Court knowing that it was a high risk gamble, Rai said: “I suppose the club had no option after the government declared that BTC needed to shift out in three years and that the government was not obligated to provide land or offer any financial assistance. But in this big fight the sport will end up a big loser if BTC fails to get a favourable verdict and that is sad.”
“Boxing and racing are my two favourite sports and I really don't fancy watching cricket,” said Rai. His unassuming brother Chandrashekar Rai who loves his racing revealed that his brother repeatedly watches all the Sylvester Stallone Rocky movies and the epic battles of Muhammed Ali against George Foreman and Frazer.
When asked why he does not frequent the BTC despite being one of the big owners, he said that BTC is not making an effort to graduate to the next level.
“The onus is on the club to facilitate all the racing fraternity, be it a owner or a punter, but the club has done very little to upgrade the existing facilities and that's one of the reasons I prefer to watch racing on my telly at home,” said Rai.
The social activist who has 40 horses in training, feels it is a good investment
Spurred by the success of Bangalore boy Kaleem Shah, the owner of Bayern, the winner of America's richest $5 million race in Santa Anita, California and a couple of big victories registered by the
Muthappa Rai, once upon a time a big name in underworld circles who was acquitted in all cases, feels that making investments on the international circuit provides a favourable window for Indian racing and the returns on investment are good if you pick up a good horse.
“I understand that it costs a fortune to pick up a pedigree horse in England or Ireland, but the stakes offered in races are very good and that provides a good chance to recover the investment if your horse wins a couple of races,” said Rai.
Rai who continues to invest big in the animal he loves most revealed that his dream is to lead in a Bangalore and Indian Derby winner in Mumbai and he will keep chasing his dream till the day one of his horses gallops home to wear the Derby sash.
“It provided me immense joy when I learnt that Kaleem Shah owned Bayern won the Breeders Cup championship. For Kaleem it was a dream come true and I'm also looking to realise my dream in the years ahead,” he said, pointing out that his passport problem has put the brakes on the plans and designs he has to become an international horse owner.
“My passport is in the custody of the police and they believe the moment I go out I will not return to India. It is a silly argument taking into account that all my business establishments including the 200-acre cultivated agricultural land and my organisation Jaya Karnataka are very much in Bengaluru. What sense does it make to leave your business empire and stay in a foreign country,” he asked.
Delighted that his brother Chandrashekar Rai on his Ireland trip, was invited to the famed Coolmore Stud Farm, Rai revealed that he had roped in a young British jockey Neil Thomas Farley from Yorkshire for the Bangalore winter season. “We have a couple of promising youngsters who will make their debut and we needed a good young jockey and I managed to rope in Neil who is enjoying a good stint in Ireland and England,” said the sports lover who sponsors the popular buffalo racing at his native place Puttur and is the president of the Karnataka Bodybuilding Association.
When asked what he thought of BTC's decision to pursue the Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the shifting of the club outside the city in Supreme Court knowing that it was a high risk gamble, Rai said: “I suppose the club had no option after the government declared that BTC needed to shift out in three years and that the government was not obligated to provide land or offer any financial assistance. But in this big fight the sport will end up a big loser if BTC fails to get a favourable verdict and that is sad.”
“Boxing and racing are my two favourite sports and I really don't fancy watching cricket,” said Rai. His unassuming brother Chandrashekar Rai who loves his racing revealed that his brother repeatedly watches all the Sylvester Stallone Rocky movies and the epic battles of Muhammed Ali against George Foreman and Frazer.
When asked why he does not frequent the BTC despite being one of the big owners, he said that BTC is not making an effort to graduate to the next level.
“The onus is on the club to facilitate all the racing fraternity, be it a owner or a punter, but the club has done very little to upgrade the existing facilities and that's one of the reasons I prefer to watch racing on my telly at home,” said Rai.
