Indian versus foreign riders

It is not correct to compare an Indian jockey with a foreign jockey, because though we do not get the top class foreign jockeys( they go to better paying countries)a foreign jockey coming to India comes for 'vacation' as racing in Europe is stopped during winter. Of course they have to be average plus to remain here as they cost many times than an average Indian jockey.
they follow the connection's instructions to win or pull a horse. period.

I don’t follow international racing with my limited resources ,but read ,study and think and think again(only facilty- freely available to us - Indians) to comprehend and keep abreast of the goings on in the international circuit . Hence my info about foreign jockys may be outdated , perhaps, but should not be wrong…

It must be a common knowledge to us, Indians, that due to commercial considerations , at present , top rung European jockeys go to Singapore/Hongkong/Australasia during their ‘winter vacation’ and only B grade jockeys land up in India because we can’t pay up as much as east Asian trainer/owners can…let us accept this fact…
But let us accept another fact…these foreign riders achieve more than accepted percentage of wins than local riders in India , due to :
1)availability of better mounts,
2) more faith in their ability by trainer/owner
3)suspicion of local rider’s connection with bookies/undesirable persons
4)many more unmentionable reasons…

and this brings us to present day reality… which is that inspite of their presence and better winning average an Indian rider becomes a champion because he knows that they will go away in the end of February when European racing season starts. An example. In 2007/2008 D Grant and S Fargeat,both average riders, would have given a tough time to our ace rider C Rajendera if they could ride in April2008 but C Rajendra was not unduly bothered as he knew that he can pickup the ‘thread’ after the departure of these socalled ‘superior’ foreign riders. His complacency was evident to all serious observers… but in 2008/2009 Daniel Grant was the champion because he stayed back!

What does it prove ,or boils down to? One of our famous rider , when thrown out by the racing baron was moving around – racing helmet in hand during morning track work and took almost 2 yrs to get rehabilitated ! He of course gives interviews out of turn !!

But that is not the end…let us analyse the racing when topgrade foreign jockeys use to visit India .. Due to constraint of time I will discuss only one race day – Indian Derby day when ‘no holds barred’ racing on true merit normally take place…
Mumbai, 1991-92, Indian Derby Day – 2 Feb 92
1st. race won by E Johnsson(foreigner),beating Dettori(fav-ended 5th.)
2nd.race won by Bhagwat (Indian)
3rd. race won by RHughes(foreigner)
4th.race won by Moses (Indian)
5th.race won by Aslam ( Indian) beating willie Carson –Indian Derby
6th.race won by Shroff (Indian)
7th.race won by Hanut Singh (Indian)
8th.race won by Bajrang Singh(Indian)
Therefore, on an Indian Derby day 6 Indian rider won races against 2 wins of foreign riders .
and who were those foreign riders who rode against these Indian jockeys….
They were…
Lestor Pigott, Willie Carson, R Hughes, JP Murtagh,K Fallon, E Johnson,P Eddery, J Lowe and L Dettori…
Some of them were/are world famous names , at that/this time, who were beaten on Mumbai racetrack by some ‘not so famous’ Indian jockeys …

Therefore, the ability or the expertise or the superiority of Indian versus foreign jockeys , subject of discussion, must be analysed in a wider perspective and should not be narrowed down to the present crop of ‘visiting professionals’ who become more faithful to the king than the king himself ! I am sure that I have made my position very clear , even then I am ready to discuss these or related points in any forum or at any place and I must categorically state that I’ve great respect for few foreign riders – Lestoer Piggot,Willie Carson, Mike Kinane are some of them…Rest of them will do anything for their Indian retainers because they know that ‘following instructions’ will make them richer by few thousand dollars everytime and anytime they visit this great country of ours – called India.