L. V. R. DESHMUKH SADDLES 1000 WINNERS & MORE

There are times when you know what you want to do and be in life from an early stage. And then there are situations that come along and take you from where you want to be to where you are. For Vittal Deshmukh it was no different. He was good with horses when he was in school itself. Equestrian sports was part of his schooling days and joining the Andhra Pradesh NCC helped him develop into a top rider not only representing the Andhra Pradesh NCC team but also winning prestigious medals. And he thought this is it. He decided to pursue 3-Day-Eventing and become a professional at it. His career landscape had already taking shape and was clearly defined.

So he set out to learn as much as he could about this profession so that he could be a master of it. Enrolling for a full time one year course in stable management at the Warwickshire College of Agriculture in 1988 he was well on his way to fulfilling his dream. That was till he went racing to the Warwick course. First impressions count, and being so impressed with the flat racing that took place, he wasted no time in putting aside his earlier dream and decided to train race horses instead.

A year later Vittal put in a six month stint at a small private establishment, Moyglare Stud Farm, owned by Mr Walter Harfner. It so happened that Dr Stan Cosgrove the stud manager was also the Director of the Irish National Stud. One thing led to another and Cosgrove’s suggestion that there’s lot to learn at the Irish National Stud sent Vittal off for an extensive course on breeding. This was followed by a year of gaining experience in breeding as a yard foreman. It was coincidental that Mr John Oxx, a prominent trainer was one of the directors as well. Wasting no time Vittal asked for an assignment as a stable assistant and he was soon learning and building on his already expanding knowledge of flat racing and equine management. Two years later, when he embarked on his journey back to India he reminisced about where he first thought he would be and how the rapid turn of events and meeting the right people at the right time set him off in a different direction, one that kept in touch with his first love, the horse.

Leading in Rank Contender – His 1st Winner

On his return to India he mastered his trade as an assistant for a period of 16 months, to trainer R R Byramji, the best that India has produced. In 1994, the year he joined the yard of R R Byramji, was a very busy year. For Byramji won 21 Classics at racecourses all over India. He had the best lot of three-year-olds. With the quality of bloodstock and the pressure of travelling and winning all over the country it turned out to be the best learning experience of meticulous stable management. His final words of motivation from Byramji were, “Be honest with your owners and be regular at work. You are as good as your last winner.” He trained his progeny well, and in May 1995 with these words still ringing in his ears, Vittal Deshmukh was ready to take on the mantle as a trainer having been granted a license by the Hyderabad Race Club.

Luck favoured Vittal for the first horse he saddled in 1995, Rank Contender, was a winner. Heaving a sigh of relief, that led him to the milestone he has achieved of complete 1039 winners as on date. He had to pursue his desire for a Classic win and that came by with Red Orchid on 7 July, 2003. That was the start of the 22 Classics won to date, that comprise part of the 52 Group races won. Five of the Classics won have been with horses not bred in India.

Tintinnabulation-Winner of the Invitation Cup

It was not all smooth sailing as his entire career almost came to a standstill with an unexpected health issue that was had to diagnose. One thing led to another and Vittal was practically bed-ridden for 8 months. One can imagine how hard this must be in a business that centres around one person, the trainer. His wife Aarti and family support was crucial and instrumental in pulling him out of his depression when he thought his career was over. He bounced back slowly and with determination won the Stayers Cup at Chennai with Tintinnabulation. This was even more motivating.

Vittal Deshmukh continues to looks forward to the future with more milestones to cross and success to achieve.