Galloping into 75
With the Amateur Rider's Club getting set for the Polo season in March, we take a walk down memory lane celebrating 75 years of one of India's oldest and largest private riding clubs.
KICK START: A bit of a dark horse in comparison to the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), the Amateur Rider's Club (ARC) makes up about 15 to 25 percent of the 220-acre Mahalaxmi Race Course. Apart from three riding schools, a show jumping area, the ARC has an arena polo ground as well as a polo ground the size of 11 football fields. March 6 beckons the start of the season of polo tournaments; matches will be held four to five days a week till March 31.
IN SYNC: An aerial view of the musical ride, a choreographed ride set to classical and sometimes upbeat music, which has been a beloved event at the ARC.
SCALING HEIGHTS: Jimmy Bharucha, who was secretary of the club for 25 years since 1963, with his famed horse Attaturk. The duo was famous for being allowed into the Taj Mahal Palace in Colaba to perform their tricks.
PIT STOP: Mounted sports like tent pegging and races where riders get off their horses to glug down a bottle of soda are still just as popular, but Gymkhana races are no longer held.
