The doyen of Indian racing Dr M A M Ramaswamy (84) passed away at Chennai on Wednesday after month long hospitalization. Dr Ramaswamy literally ruled Indian racing and dominated the classic scene like no one had done before or hope to do in future.

Dr Ramaswamy enjoyed unprecedented success in racing, having the distinction of winning 600 classics in India. Though the number of races designated as classics in India are big in number, his record tally is still staggering because this success was achieved with single minded pursuit which not only required him to spend crores of rupees but also devote enormous time in planning out his strategy along with his professionals. Money alone cannot guarantee success in classics. An uncanny ability to pick potential champions and exploiting their talent to the fullest was Dr Ramaswamy`s god given ability. No race horse owner can ever hope to match his passion, zeal or knowledge of horses. Dr Ramaswamy was in a league of his own.


Dr Ramaswamy was an enigmatic person. It was difficult to understand him. Dr Ramaswamy loved to dominate and he would stretch to the limit to ensure that he achieved his targets. He hated competition at least at his home centre which he dominated totally ensuring that all the classics were his own preserve. Though Chennai was known for its competitive racing in the past, in the last two decades, racing was one-sided, with almost all prominent race horse owners quitting the sport or moving to other centres. Dr Ramaswamy did not bother about this for he wanted to win everything. However at other centres, he raced his horses to beat any opposition. The towering presence coupled with the mysterious aura made him an enigmatic colossus of Indian racing. His death is sure to shake Indian racing in a massive way. He was one of the biggest spenders on horses and his absence will surely be felt by the industry. Dr Ramaswamy`s death has caused a void which is unlikely to be filled.

Dr Ramaswamy`s commitment to racing was total. He had more than 700 horses in training. Even in the days before he was admitted to the hospital he was seriously planning his racing strategy for the ensuing classic season. He also got an elaborate will executed that even after his death, the racing tradition of the family should continue and to this end, he had set up a trust namely Dr M A M Ramaswamy Chettiyar Trust to which all the horses have already been transferred. He had asked his cousin A C Muthaiah to take charge of the trust and also continue racing of his horses in his colours. He had insisted that the Invitation Cup weekend races which Chennai will host in the first week of March should go through whether he was alive or not.

MAM was a god-fearing man. He was also superstitious. He believed in the lucky mascots like his tie and the attire which he would repeat on every occasion he was present at race courses when his horses ran in classics. ``On every big day in racing, I have been wearing the same tie for the last 30 odd years. I carry the same purse though it has seen better days," Dr Ramaswamy had told me during the course of several interviews that I had with him. MAM was excessively obsessed with winning classics but even this trait did not make him buy horses, which were Asudars (horses which have a mark below eye level, between the eyes) which is supposed to be unlucky for the race horse owner even if the horse had all the attributes of a champion.

Dr Ramaswamy holds several records in Indian racing. Besides winning maximum number of races, he has won 600 classics. He has also won the highest number of Indian Derbies. Every big race in India has been won scores of times. It is difficult to count the number of races that he has won which surely would run into several thousands. Dr Ramaswamy did not enjoy owning horses in partnership. He demanded total loyalty from his professionals which is why he mostly preferred to have private trainers at all centres. He trained with a number of trainers who were not his private trainers but the association did not last long. Because if things went wrong, Dr Ramaswamy was unforgiving and was not afraid to give vent to his feelings.

Dr Ramaswamy was a generous patron. He was famous for his philanthropic activities. In fact, he has willed a substantial chunk of money for charitable activities under a trust. All the professionals who were associated with him all reaped huge benefits. Who is who among Indian jockeys have donned silks for him. Scores of English jockeys rode regularly for the Turf Baron. The number of champion horses that Dr Ramaswamy owned during his journey in the sport for five decades is truly enormous. India`s best loved horse in recent times Be Safe was the last famous horse he owned in the last one year.

Dr Ramaswamy always desired to leave the footprints in time. To be remembered for his commitment and passion for racing. For the enormity of his success. The complete domination that he had over the sport. As an incredible man of Indian racing.

The death of Dr Ramaswamy is sure to have wider ramifications on the sport. The face of the sport itself is bound to change because people like him made Indian racing what it is today. When a colossus dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of others. The Dr Ramaswamy light is sure to burn brighter and brighter. He is assured of an eminent place when the history of racing in India is written.