Calcutta: Amrit Lal Sud, ex-president of the Calcutta Racehorse Owners Society (CROS), passed away on Friday. He was 91.

Sudwas the last of the founding members of the society which, during his tenure as president, had also had a big say in the corridors of power to help the sport improve.

In a sport where many are viewed with suspicion, Sud instilled confidence across sections with his fair-play approach.

His first tryst with ownership, of Prawn Curry and Aunty Pip, produced envious results.

Aunty Pip claimed the Calcutta Gold Cup and went on to lift the 1959 edition of the Queen's Cup. Oldtimers still vouch for the nostalgic past - between 1950s and 1970s - when horse racing was at its zenith in the city.

Sud'ssuccess and achievements early in his career earned him the nickname 'Always Lucky Sud.'

Advancing age restricted Sud's racing activities and he literally signed off after the 1985-86 Calcutta winter season when Tug Of War, trained by Nahoum Karanjawalla, won him the 'Triple Crown' - the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger.

Jockey M. Jagdish partnered Tug Of War to victory in the Derby, which had to be postponed twice because of labour unrest at the RCTC.