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CM Puts Kunigal Stud Back On Track
By Racing Correspondent | 20 Apr 2011 | BANGALORE
It was a big burden and the proof is that the Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa loves horses, not so much the courses. And the owner of the Kunigal Stud Farm Dr Vijay Mallya will agree that it is all `Burden Of Proof'.
To stop the Bangalore-Hassan train chugging through the middle of the 400-acre heritage Kunigal Stud Farm proved a big burden for the charismatic farm owner and after the Chief Minister Yeddyurappa approved the realignment of the railway line while declaring that his government will not cut through or damage the heritage farm, it is time to put the `Saddle Up' at the leading farm.
While lauding the effort of the CM, Managing Director of United Racing and Bloodstock Breeders Ltd (URBB), Zeyn Mirza pointed out that the earmarked earlier route was dividing the farm into two and with the train running right through the middle, they would have no option but to shut shop. "We are immensely pleased with the final call the CM has taken and we will continue in our effort to make this heritage farm the best in the country," said Mirza.
Most animal lovers associations in the state declared that the decision of the CM on Kunigal proved that he not only is an animal lover but also cares for the environment taking into account that the Railways needed to cut about 300 century-old trees including many Sandal wood trees in the proposed track which ran through the farm.
It may be recalled that the Principal Secretary to government of Infrastructure Development department, V Madhu after making an inspection of the farm with Ramesh Pinjani, Chief Engineer, Construction, South Western Railways, had recommended that the Railways could shift the alignment of the track to the South Western boundary without changing the place earmarked for the Kunigal station and that the additional cost borne to shift by the Railways could well be shared by the Karnataka government and the Railways.
Well, the Karnataka CM in a magnanimous gesture has gone a step ahead making it clear that the Karnataka government in its bid to protect the heritage farm will bear the extra cost, a sum of Rs 11 crore.
The Bangalore-Hassan train will now run over a track over the irrigation tank and a 100-metre long bridge will be built to help the train go over the lake. This recommendation Madhu had made to the Railways and the state government and after many deliberations and plans the Karnataka government has decided to help maintain the heritage site.
Kunigal Stud Farm was started by the Great Mysore King Tipu Sultan for breeding horses for his cavalry and after his death in the third war of Mysore against the British, the British army used this farm to breed Arabian horses for their regiments. In 1886, the farm also housed Pero Gomez, the first-ever thoroughbred stallion to be imported to India.
The farm has produced many classic winners on the Indian and International circuit, Saddle Up topping the list.
Kunigal Stud Farm, to its credit has also registered a rare and unique feat - two Derby winners ever ridden by a woman jockey, Silva Storai, Brown Sugar and Full Speed in the century-old Indian racing history coming from Kunigal.
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