Indian Friends and Bombay Racing

Father had a large circle of friends, both English and Indian, in Bombay and Mona got quite friendly with most of them.

One one occasion, she was driving an English lady friend of the family near Dhobi Talao, a 5 road junction downtown near St. Xavier’s High School. It was the end of the monsoon, but the roads were wet, greasy and quite tricky when driving over the tram lines on the road. The wheels of the little Morris car just about fitted the tram lines and when Mona tried to turn to the left from the road centre to avoid a tram, she found the wheels locked! Fortunately, the tram was able to stop just a few feet away. In the middle of the panic, the engine had also stalled and Mona was feeling very shaken.

A number of people had gathered around and the tram driver had also got down to assist. Mona, however, heard a very cultured voice near by: “Can I be of assistance, Madam?”. Mona turned and noticed that an elderly slim, smartly dressed, quite fair complexioned gentleman was talking to her. She explained her predicament and said that she would be glad for any help. The person called to his chauffeur to take charge of the car and drive it to the kerb. He then introduced himself as “Byramji” and asked about Mona. When she said she was a guest of Mr. Tyabji at Bandra, he replied that he was an old friend of the family! He offered to drive the ladies in his car, whilst the chauffeur would take charge of Mona’s car and drive it home. Mona was quite happy at this offer and the two ladies had a very good day – with an excellent lunch thrown in!

Byramji, a Parsi, was apparently very well off, his car an expensive American-type – a Buick, I think. He came into the house and, after a short visit, asked Mona if she was interested in horse racing. When Mona told him that she definitely was very much so, he invited her to go with him to the Mahalaxmi Races next time. He would drive her over, pay all expenses and even give her some money to bet with – if she would help in choosing winners!

During the monsoon, the Royal Western India Turf Club conducted its racing in Poona. This is a city quite close to Bombay but receiving much less rainfall. The climate is very pleasant with the temperature not rising over 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the monsoon. The train service from Bombay was also very convenient as there was a “Race Special” on race days, leaving about 7am and arriving in Poona around 11am.The journey is only about 190 km but it it contains many steep grades and sharp curves – with over 40 tunnels. It also included a “reversing station” at one place where the mountainside could not be made suitable for curve at a suitable grade. At these kinds of reversing stations, the train was taken to the edge of the mountain slope, then the engine at the rear of the train took charge and the train went backward, with the front engine now being the “pusher”! Two engines had to be used for the “ghat” section, a distance of about 40 mines, starting at Neral and ending at Lonavla (about a 2000 ft. rise). The return journey was after the races finished and the race-goers could be back in Bombay by 10:30 pm. A dining car was also on the train so a good dinner and drinks could be had for reasonable prices.

The races moved back to Mahalaxmi in Bombay after the monsoon was over (about the middle of October). On the opening day in Bombay, Byramji called for Mona and took her to the Member’s Enclosure. As the horses were being paraded for the first race, he asked Mona what she fancied. After watching the horses for some time, she pointed to a rather nice looking horse. Byramji laughed scornfully, remarking that this horse was not considered even to come in the first 4! He said that he was going to bet on the favourite! However, Mona persisted that her choice was the better one. So, Byramji laughed and said that he would give her 100 Rupees to bet on her fancy and, if it gave her any money, she was welcome to keep it! To cut a long story short, the horse won by a neck! As the odds were something like 15/1, Mona collected a nice little sum. She offered to repay Byramji but he insisted that it was all hers.

A few days later, besides getting herself odds and ends, Mona invested nearly half the amount in buying the best portalbe “His Master’s Voice” gramaphone and a set of records. These included some classical ones featuring singers like Caruso and others of lighter music. In those days, the best HMV quality records were the “White Labels”, priced at about 5 Rupees each. The next quality down had “Red Labels” at Rs. 3.50 and ordinary dance music, etc….cost about Rs. 2 and had “Cherry Red Labels”.

[ed. This must have been the beginning of our family’s multi-generational passion for horse racing…for better or for worse! Incidentally, I’m not sure whether they are related, but the most successful racehorse trainer in Indian history is also a Byramji!]