On February 18, Royal Calcutta Turf Club came alive with the sounds of hooves and wild cheering as the Maidan address hosted multiple races including two of the most prestigious ones —The Indian Air Force Cup and The Eastern Air Command Cup Races. While we missed the spectacular aerial show this year, the adrenaline rush on the race course more than made up for it. Glimpses
What looked like a race with a clear winner from the start, turned into a nail-biting fight towards the end. The Indian Air Force Cup saw Monteverdi (No 5) trained by Vijay Singh and steered by jockey Hindu Singh struggling to maintain the lead towards the close of the race. It reclaimed the lead though and won the race with a few seconds to go for the finishing line.
Smita Dharkar (sixth from left) wife of Air Mshl SP Dharkar with wives and guests of fellow officers
Air Mshl SP Dharkar with wifeSmita Dharkar, AOC-in-C EAC.“From 1996 onwards we havebeen doing the races exceptone year during the Covid. I amhere for the first time and I amlooking forward to an excitingexperience. I have heard theadrenaline gets racing alongwith the horses. So that should befun,” said Dharkar. An animal lover, Smita added:“I have been to Calcutta manytimes, but it’s my first time forthe race. I am a little excited andnervous as well. I am an animallover, so somehow I get anxiousseeing them race because I don’twant them to get hurt. The race,I have heard is an experience initself and I am looking forwardto it.”
The Air Force Band added to the mood with their symphony
(L-R)Lt Gen RP Kalita and Nisha Kalita, Army Cdr Eastern Command, AVM R Bhasin and Gp Capt Neeraj Bhasin, AOC Adv HQ
Sqn Ldr Anju (extreme right) with Sq Ldr Bijoya and civil judge Disha Barai. Anju who is a regular at the races likes watching it not from the ringside but from the private vehicle trailing the racers. “The thrill of watching them from close quarters cannot be defined in words. It’s amazing,” she said.
