Updated On: 30 January, 2025 06:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Prakash Gosavi
Winning the Indian Derby and leading in the winning horse to a thundering applause and a standing ovation by the mammoth Mahalaxmi crowd is a dream of every horse owner, and even big money is a small price to pay for that opportunity

The HPSL Indian Derby winners’ trophy. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
The HPSL Indian Derby (Gr 1), to be run at the Mahalaxmi racetrack (Sunday, Feb 2), will be as wide open as the doorless Gateway Of India. Don't take my word for it--listen to the money!
If the owners of as many as five horses, which were not meant to run the Derby in the first place, shell out Rs 15 lakh each as "late entry fee" just to get into the Derby fray, that's only because they sense there could be a real chance for them to lead in the Derby winner at the end of the most exciting two-and-a-half-minutes in the horse racing game. Interestingly, this quintet includes Ranqelino who has traveled from Bangalore after a fluent victory in the Gr 1, Bangalore Derby on the Republic Day.