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THE INDIAN 2000 GUINEAS (GR.I)
 
The Indian 2000 Guineas, is a Group 1 horse race for 3-year-old colts and fillies run over a distance of a mile at level weights, the fillies claiming 1.5 kg allowance. Geldings were not permitted to race till 1965 and for a few years in between thereafter. The 2000 Guineas, The Derby and The St. Leger, together form the “Triple Crown” of thoroughbred racing of that age group.
 
Unlike other races, the Classics come around only once for any horse, classic success can make a colt a potential stallion, and it remains the true measure of success for every Jockey, Trainer, and Owner.
 
It is the second Classic out of the five Indian Classics run in Mumbai. It was first run on Saturday, 16th January 1943.  The inaugural running was won by “Princess Beautiful”, owned by His Highness The Maharaja Gaekwar of Baroda, trained by M.C. Patel and ridden by Jockey E.Britt, won by 8 lengths and 9 runners faced the Starter. The winners’ stakes was Rs.20,250/-.
 
Interestingly, in the year 1967, the closest finish was a deadheat (till date) between two horses “Bulund” and “Our Select”. Later on, “Our Select” went on to win the Triple Crown that year.
 
The Owner to have the most number of wins in this race was HH Maharajadhiraj of Jammu and Kashmir, 5 times, Trainer R. R. Byramji has the distinction of winning this race 5 times, the Jockey with the maximum wins in this race is P. Shroff, 5 times.
 
Interestingly, R.R. Byramji is the only Trainer to have saddled the winners of all the five classics in one year. He did it in 1976/77 with “Reprint” who went on to win the Indian 1000 Guineas and Oaks, “Squanderer” who went on to win Indian 2000 Guineas, Indian Derby and Indian St. Leger.
 
Ms.Arti Doctor, who saddled “Wild Eagle”, in the year 2001 is the only lady Trainer to have trained an Indian Classic winner.

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