Shah leading in one of his winners.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Veteran horse trainer Syed S. Shah, 87, officially retired after a remarkable career at the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) on Sunday, March 23.
In his last race, Shah saddled two runners and his six-year-old mare Golden Rule secured a thrilling victory to bring an incredible 55-year long career to a triumphant conclusion. Over his long and successful career, Shah trained more than 900 winners
Shah, who obtained his trainer’s license in 1969, learned the fundamentals of the sport from his elder brother S.M. Shah. Following in his brother’s footsteps, he trained horses for several prominent owners and earned a reputation for his dedication and expertise.
Shah’s first major victory came in 1973 when Mansoor achieved an unexpected win in the Indian Derby by defeating the race favourite Bade Miya trained by S.M. Shah!
Another of his outstanding achievements came when he guided Hotstepper to victory in the 2008 Indian Derby. The following year he repeated the feat with Antonios, securing back-to-back Derby wins to cement his legacy in the sport.
Published – March 25, 2025 05:58 pm IST
