Arjun Cup Horse Race organised at Race Course in Lucknow was a gala affair

A beautiful sunday:All roads led to the Lucknow Race Course last Sunday where the Arjun Cup Horse Race was organized. Dedicated to Late Chaudhry Arjun Singh, the jagirdar of Biswan, a district near Sitapur, the race had been organized by his great grandson Jai Choudhry in association with UP Tourism. A sunny afternoon saw people gather and listen to a live performance by Trishna band, even as eight thoroughbreds lined the tracks.
For the very first time! you bet!: An impressive performance by the thoroughbreds in the past had instilled enough confidence in the likes of Sabiha Ahmad and Manav Prakash to risk laying a few bets on the steeds.A first time for both of them, both the two were excited at the prospect of winning a horse race. Sabiha even commented, “This is the first time I am betting in a horse race, I wish my horse wins. I have bet on Chocolate and I’m sure he’ll be the winner.”
Picture this: More excitement was added to the event as the UP Police jawans put up an impressive show of tent pegging. A lot of ‘OMGs’ and ‘aahs’ were heard as one of them pegged a tent blindfolded.
Nail biting finish: All the bets were on Rajnish Chopra’s horse Chocolate, to clinch a hat-trick and create a record of sorts of winning all derbys in last 10 years, by winning this race too. But all hopes were shattered as Jaideep Narain Mathur’s horse, Don’t Be Silly, beat the former by a fraction of a second. “This was one of the most exciting wins I have seen,” said Col Mark.
Win-win: The afternoon though proved lucky for VN Misra who walked away with the prize of best dressed veteran male and also for Ritika Saxena whose hat fetched her a prize, among other winners.