Trainer Uttam Singh, popularly known as ‘Fillies’ Specialist’ of yesteryear, was felicitated on Sunday by the Stewards of RWITC as he will complete 100 years this September. It was appropriate the felicitation came on the Indian Oaks day, an event he has won seven times.
Uttam Singh, who was born on September 19, 1919, started as an apprentice jockey in 1939 and became one of the first riders to become a trainer. He was private trainer of Maharaja Himmatsinghji of Idar in 1952. Later, he trained for S.M. Ruia, Deepak Khaitan, Poonawallas, Jains and Singhania.
His first Classic winner came in 1968 when Venus De Milo won the Indian Oaks for Ruias. In his 50 years training career, he won 19 Indian Classics before hanging his boots in 2002.