Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad, known for his love of sports such as Golf and Polo, also ventured into Thoroughbred Horse Racing.
Adding to the rich legacy of Vadodara’s royal equestrian history, the legendary thoroughbred mare Princess Beautiful remains an iconic name associated with the Gaekwad dynasty. Owned by Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad of Baroda, whose passion for thoroughbred breeding and racing extended beyond India, she etched her name into Indian turf history on January 30, 1943, by winning the inaugural Indian Derby at Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Trained by M.C. Patel and ridden by champion jockey Edgar Britt, the exceptional filly also claimed victory in the Indian 1000 Guineas and Indian 2000 Guineas during the same season. Her remarkable achievements marked another important chapter in Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad’s involvement in thoroughbred racing and complemented the international fame later achieved by Sayajirao (the horse), further highlighting the Baroda royal family’s significant contribution to the golden era of classic horse racing.
In 1945, he purchased a year-old horse for a record price of US $1,176,000. This horse was the brother of Epsom Derby winner Dante and was named Sayajirao. Sayajirao went on to achieve remarkable success, winning the Irish Derby and Irish St Leger in 1947.
Keen to establish Sayajirao as a stallion, Pratapsinhrao acquired a Stud Farm named Connellmore in Ireland, which he transformed and renamed Baroda Stud Farm.
At the age of 3, Sayajirao won the Lingfield Derby Trial and the Irish Derby Stakes. He also placed third in The Derby and the 2000 Guineas Stakes before clinching the third leg of the English Triple Crown, the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse.
Sayajirao proved to be a successful stallion, becoming Champion Sire in Ireland in 1960. His offspring included the legendary mare Gladness, Irish Classic winners Zenobia and Lynchris, and the three-time Irish Grand National winner Brown Lad. Sayajirao retired from stud duties in 1949 after siring winners of 410 races.
Later, Pratapsinhrao acquired another notable racehorse, a French-bred named ‘My Babu’, trained by Sam Armstrong.
Following Maharaja Pratapsinhrao’s passing in 1968, Baroda Stud became part of the Airlie Stud empire under the management of Captain Tim Rogers. In 1978, it was sold to Sean Doyle, and subsequently changed hands to Philip Myerscough in 1999 and later to the Cox family in 2006.
Despite changing ownership, the farm retains the name ‘Baroda Stud’, a lasting tribute to its illustrious former owner and continues to nurture some of the finest horses ever seen.
Sources: Baroda Stud, NYT 1, NYT 2, RWITC
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