Equestrian enthusiast

Died: Dady Naoroji Adenwalla, 80, respected board of appeal member of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) and erstwhile chief stipe (stipendiary steward whose advice is sought on the rules of racing), on February 20, 2012 after falling off the balcony of his fourth floor flat when he was leaning over to locate his driver just a few days after an eye surgery.

"He was one of the finest stipes RWITC has ever had and was unbiased in his decisions. His endearing and affable personality made him very likeable,” RWITC chairman Vivek Jain was quoted in the Hindustan Times, a day after Adenwalla’s demise.

"He respected the stewards and the chief stipe’s chair like a chief of the army would respect his post… From him I learnt what decorum, dedication and discipline meant… He is one of the few people who have shaped my life,” Shujaat Hussain who worked as assistant stipendiary steward under Adenwalla paid a tribute to his mentor in the Mumbai Mirror of February 21.

"Rock of Gibraltar was undoubtedly his favorite horse and like the horse, Dady was RWITC’s Rock of Gibraltar,” noted Ardeshir Narielwala when penning a tribute to his cousin. For the last over a decade when he served on the board of appeal the "no-nonsense man” had adopted for his motto, "Every professional has a right to be heard and…to natural justice,” stated Narielwala adding, "I would not be on the race course, if it were not for him. As a young boy, I followed him around marveling at his ability to notice the minutest defects and strengths of the horse which he would patiently explain to me…Every time he noticed a good horse he made it a point to be present at the Race Course to see the horse live up to its reputation and perform… Beneath his gruff exterior and flammable temper (he once chased a leading jockey around the paddock for losing a certain race) was a gentle soul with an infectious smile.” He loved horse racing for the sport and not the money, having never gambled even five rupees on a horse till the end.

Adenwalla (from left) with Queen Elizabeth II after winning the Queen’s Cup; and with Sir Lestor Piggot, son-in-law of Sam Armstrong

Recalling the year 1954 when they had forged a friendship on their voyage aboard the ship Victoria, Jehangir Dubash wrote, "He was returning after a couple of years’ stipendiary under one of the most well-known and successful English trainers Sam Armstrong.” Once in India, he interned with K. P. Jadhav before getting his own license a year later. After training in Delhi for a year he came to Bombay where he became a well respected and popular trainer among celebrities like the Maharaja of Parlaki­midi and the Maharaja of Kashmir, known even then for his honesty and integrity. "Though a small owner, he trained for me for over 30 years and presented me a classic win, The 2000 Guineas,” acknowledged Dubash who valued him "like a brother” knowing that Adenwalla "was greatly loved by a vast circle of friends of all ages, including my little grandson Jeh, all of eight years.”

"The thrill of winning a Derby is unparalleled. You’ve no idea of the thrill experienced by the trainer standing opposite the grand stands and waiting to lead his horse. The spontaneous roar, the cheer, the thunderous applause and greetings all round are simply unforgettable. In fact they are the proudest moments of my life or for that matter of any trainer.” This statement made years ago by Adenwalla who enjoyed the distinction of training two India Derby winners, Balchand (in 1957) and Fair Wood (in 1959), was quoted on the Manjri Stud Farm website. His horse Fairbab had won the Queen’s Cup in 1960.

Champion jockey Pesi Shroff who had been groomed as an apprentice by Adenwalla remembered his senior in a tribute posted on the Manjri Stud Farm website: "He would act tough but kept nothing at heart. He was forthright and honest…” Added Shroff, "Racing was his life. He expected everyone to be as committed as he was. Unfortunately it is hard to get people like him who were so involved with racing.”

After training 11 classics he retired in 1986 and served as senior stipendiary steward for the next 15 years. "As a senior official of the Club, he governed with a firm hand and a soft heart. He was unrelenting when he found that someone had hurt the sport and was forgiving when he found the circumstances needed him to be so. While some feared him, all respected him and when he retired at the end of a glorious career, he was easily elected to the board of appeal at the RWITC… His temper in the board room was often laced with a sense of humor and clearly when we tally the books, it will stand in Adenwalla’s balance sheet that he gave more to racing that he took,” commented Mohit Lalvani whose write-up featured on www.indiarace.com. "Those were the days when the sport was truly a sport and even as modernization took over and brought us to where we are today, Adenwalla remained true to the value systems that gave racing a warm glow as against a cold shine,” recalled Lalvani.

Born in Bombay, Adenwalla had spent his formative years in Poona. Passionate about horses and all animals from childhood, his parents encouraged him to attend Shivaji School which was the only school at the time to have riding as part of its curriculum. "Very religious,” he would set aside an hour for prayer each day having grown up in a household that had a separate prayer room, mentioned his daughter Shireen who appreciated that he never forced her to wear the sudreh-kusti.

Adenwalla was so overcome with emotion that he was literally left speechless on the day he was conferred The Lifetime Achievement Award by the RWITC Limited with a standing ovation "which has never been seen before,” reported Narielwala. In honor and memory of Adenwalla, a race has now been named after him.

The horse lover is survived by his daughter Shireen, and sisters Khorshed Kekoo Gandhy and Aimee Behram Wadia.