Mumbai: He keeps pace with the horse power, this is no kid stuff. Deepak Rajpal is the senior most racing commentator of the Indian horse racing, who day in and out keeps the audience in pace with the ongoing race at the racing centres in Mumbai and Pune. Following all the races on the track and updating the spectators about all that is happening in the few minutes they run. This is what, a senior citizen, Rajpal from Mysore is all about.
It has been three decades of his run with the job, which he feels has still not attained the peak. “Still I have butterflies in stomach!” This is a clear evidence that being a commentator of racing is not a cup of tea for anyone, but a daunting job. Although people have not seen him, his voice is loud and clear giving the audience all that happens seconds-by-second from the time the horses reach the starting gates till the winning post.
“Yes, I am hungry and I am yet to reach my peak,” is what Deepak says about his three-decade old profession. He always wanted to be a cricket commentator as a youngster, but one visit to the race course, things turned out the other way for the racing commentator.
“It was in early 80s when I accompanied my father to the Mysore racecourse. I was blown apart by the commentator’s speed keeping in pace with the running horses, and I said to myself I should be one in the commentary box of horse racing and that is the reason for me to be here,” said Deepak while chatting with Free Press Journal on Derby day, at the Mahalaxmi racecourse here on Sunday.
There have been many mistakes while doing the job, but errors are human and nobody is perfect. But, one learns from mistakes, and it was one such error that turned Deepak Upside down and since then he makes sure that he is sure of what he is doing. Horse racing is not about betting or as many call it a Den of gambling, but for me it is the king of all sports and one has to come to the racecourse to enjoy these beautiful animals galloping,” said Deepak while signing off.