RACING HORSE

Shaili:- Hello Everybody, I am Shaili Chopra, starting the program “NDTV Animal Interview”. Today, we have the famous “Racing Horse” with us. His name is “Rony”.Well Rony, tell me how you became the No. 1 “Racing Horse”of Kolkata Race course. At one time, you were the King of this track.

Rony: - See, it really depends on your trainer, how you will be trained? My trainer cum jockey “Peter” always used to say that, do not speed up in the initial stages of the race. Always, play the game as an underdog. When, you are in the second last lap, just start running from the left side of the track, and when you are viewing the target point in a straight line, just pick up your speed with full energy. And, I have already succeeded in it.

Shaili: - Did you ever felt guilty, when people committed suicide, by investing money on the other horses, whom you defeated?

Rony: - Boss, that is a “Race” and “Gambling”. Either you lose or you win. Even big businessmen like “Vijay Malia” also lose the game, but that is ok. But, in Kolkata, it was a disaster. In one particular year, around 15 people committed suicide, after getting defeated in the Kolkata Racing Gambling. In the next year, due to the objections from the High Court, the “Kolkata Race Course” completely got closed. Our career got doomed.

Shaili: - Then, what happened to you, after that.

Rony: - I got listed in the “Bombay Race Course”, and again got victory. But, after 2 years, my trainer cum jockey “Peter” died, by falling from my back. I never thought, such an accident will occur. I was literally shocked on that day. After, “Peter”, I hardly got any good jockey or trainer, and my performance degraded. After 1 year, I got de-listed from the “Bombay Race Course”.

Shaili: - Now, where are you? What are you doing nowadays?

Rony: - Well, for 2 years, I was in Agra, for driving the “Ekka Gaadi”. After that, now, a man named “Hafiz” has bought me from there. Now, I am driving the “Tanga Gaadi” in front of “Victoria Memorial” of Kolkata, every afternoon.

Shaili: - Are you enjoying your new job, at present?

Rony: - Ya, of course, why not. See, I am getting older. I do not have enough speed now, to win the races. But, at least I am driving a “historical” tanga car, with lots of romantic couples and visitors riding it every day. At least, now no one can blame me, that for winning the race, many people have committed suicide. Now, I have to go for my duty. My master “Hafiz” is coming to take me.

Shaili: - Thanks for your valuable time, Rony. See you again later. Take care, bye bye. Viewers, we are ending the program here. Have a nice day. This is Shaili signing off.