The Legend of Kheem Singh

NEW DELHI: It was Kheem Singh who broke the foreign riders’ domination on the Indian Derby when he guided Chandulal Shah-owned colt, favourite Balam, to a fighting victory on February 5, 1948 to become the first Indian jockey to win the coveted race. He beat Prince Of Ramgarh by a neck. Kheem Singh also won four Indian Oaks, three Indian 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas and Indian St. Leger once each in his riding career, from 1940 to 1959.
Kheem Singh was the first Indian rider, besides Uttam Singh, to enroll at the jockey school at RWITC in 1939. He was also the first to complete apprenticeship with 30 wins to become a full jockey in 1940.
For his skills, then leading trainer ALJ Talib retained him. Throughout his riding career, he rode only for Talib. He received many lucrative offers to ride from various royal stables but he remained loyal to Talib as he was the one to have given him a break.
He was a leading jockey several times. A sound solid dependable rider, he was considered the best at smart get-aways which helped him considerably in sprint races.
Kheem Singh was probably the only jockey to have won two races on the same day with the same horse called Camisole, during the Pune season in 50s. The trainer had entered the same horse in two races and forgot to scratch. Nobody realized this till the race day!
Kheem Singh went with Balam to ride in England as trainer Talib had insisted he should be riding. Balam was also the first Indian horse to race abroad. But the English officials did not allow him to ride. He also rode in Sri Lanka.
For his excellent understanding of the horses, RWITC gave him a trainers’ license the day Kheem Singh retired as a jockey in 1960. In the subsequent Mumbai season of 1961-62, he went on to beat his mentor Talib for the trainers’ championship on the last day of the season with a winner more.
Kheem Singh won one Indian 1000 Guineas as trainer when his filly River Haven won in 1967. He appreciated jockey Vasant Shinde as the best he ever saw in the saddle.
After giving up training in 1975, Kheem Singh became a stipe at RWITC and held his position for the next 15 years. RWITC honoured him with a Living Legend Trophy in 1999. He died at the age of 82 in 2005. Kheem Singh is survived by his wife and four sons. Two of them, Himmat Singh at RWITC and Sardar Singh at Bangalore, are trainers.
Number Game
42: Number of wins Kheem Singh registered as a jockey during the 1948-49 Mumbai season, consisting of about 22 days. It was a record till another legendary jockey, Vasant Shinde, broke it in 80s.