A Dream Come True Sri Lankan Jockey Ravi Kumar wins the RTC Governor’s Cup

19 April 2024 09:27 am Views - 174

For a long time the races have been dominated by Indian jockeys who are flown over for the races and except on maybe one or two occasions the winning horses in the Governor’s Cup have always been won by non Sri Lankan jockeys...

As the trusty steed Here and Now crossed the finishing line at the recently concluded prestigious Royal Turf Club Governor’s Cup Race powered by HPSL,  Sri Lankan jockey Ravi Kumar punched the air in elation as he had achieved a dream he had harboured since he was a young child. 
This win is all the more poignant for Ravi Kumar as many of the jockeys that ride in the races are flown in from India and Ravi Kumar is part of a small number of Sri Lankan jockeys who are taking great strides in representing Sri Lanka in the field of horse racing. 

Ravi Kumar  first started working with ponies at the age of 11. His father was one of many  that had a few ponies and would offer pony rides to holiday makers that visited Nuwara Eliya. Economic necessity drove Ravi Kumar’s father to seek greener pastures overseas. As Ravi Kumar had dropped out of school in the fourth grade, his dad  handed over the reins of the fledgling pony ride business to Ravi Kumar who took on the task eagerly as he liked nothing more than spending every available minute with his equine brood of six ponies. He first rode in the pony race  at the age of 11 and it was a life long ambition of his to become a jockey.  In 2002 when his father returned, Ravi Kumar decided it was time to pursue his dreams and he joined the Jayaratne Stables. There he practiced hard and was taken on as a jockey. In 2004 he rode his first race and in 2009 he rode in both the Governor’s Cup and the Queen’s Cup on horses belonging to Mr Rajan Sellamuttu. Although he did not win the plum prize he came second in the Queen’s Cup he says.  
Two years ago he joined the Edwards Stables and further developed his riding skills. Describing the bond he has with the horses Ravi Kumar says “I have a special relationship with the horses in the stables. To me they are not animals but more like family. I understand them and they understand me. On race day I have a chat with each horse I ride and tell him or her that we must somehow win the race. The horses also understand the thrill of racing. They are all pumped up and raring to race.”
Describing his recent win at the RTC Governor’s Cup Ravi Kumar adds  "Leading up to the races I had a dream to win the Governor’s Cup. I felt it in me that it was my time. For a long time the races have been dominated by Indian jockeys who are flown over for the races and except on maybe one or two occasions the winning horses in the Governor’s Cup have always been won by non Sri Lankan jockeys. I was determined to change this status quo. I told myself I am going to win this race.”

“Just before the race both my horse and I were full of excitement but I did not lose focus on the task ahead of me. As soon as the gates opened Here and Now rode off with great gusto. I had a clear vision ahead of me and my horse and I both worked as a team to cross the finish line. I cannot  find words to describe the feeling of coming first in the Governor’s Cup. For a small town boy who first took part in a pony race at the age of 11 to riding the winning horse in the Governor’s Cup is a huge victory  which I wish to share with my fellow Sri Lankan jockeys, my stable owners Mr and Mrs Edwards, my community and of course my country” he added. 
Standing on the podium with Mrs Purni Edwards, trainer SD Mahesh and other dignitaries, it was a jubilant jockey Ravi Kumar that accepted his medal and helped Mrs Edwards raise the Governor’s Cup in a victorious gesture. It is indeed commendable that a young lad who grew up surrounded by ponies and harboured a dream of winning the most prestigious race in Sri Lankan horse racing made his dream a reality.  
(Pix courtesy RTC)