There’s an undeniable tinge of melancholy when reflecting on this year’s HPSL South India Derby, the crown jewel of Chennai’s racing calendar set for Tuesday, January 14, coinciding with the traditional Pongal Day—celebrating the harvest season. The Madras Race Club, home to some of the finest racing infrastructure, seems cursed by a "Vaastu" that perpetually limps. Racing here has been a precarious balancing act over a pit of quicksand, from outright government bans to dramatic takeovers, and then the grudging hand backs—each more theatrical than the last. The Supreme Court even stepped in at one point, graciously declaring horse racing a “game of skill” rather than a gambler’s folly, as if that lone decree could shoo away the vultures always circling.

For years, the club operated under a curious dictatorship of sorts—a one-man show that ran like clockwork, albeit with the charm of an old, slightly rusty pendulum. Then came the winds of democracy, bringing fresh air, sure, but also chaos. Just as the club began finding its footing again, the government delivered its pièce de resistance: an eviction notice. "Shift elsewhere," they said. “We’ll give you land,” they promised. But, naturally, no one mentioned when, where, or how. Racing operations are set to halt on March 31, save for a miracle—and let’s face it, miracles are a scarce commodity these days.

Sure, the club technically holds a lease for another 15 years, but you can’t race horses while jousting with a hostile government. There’s chatter about a new racecourse materializing on promised land—though "promised" here feels about as concrete as a cloud. For now, speculation runs the show, while certainty sulks in the corner, refusing to make an appearance. What’s certain is that this year’s Derby could be the swan song for the iconic Madras Race Club track. And what a bitter irony that is—hosting the Indian Turf Invitation Cup in March while the sport’s very existence at this venue teeters on the brink.

One can’t help but wonder why the powers that be never thought to secure their own land, rather than leaving the club at the mercy of a government that changes its mind as often as a racehorse switches leads. Hyderabad Race Club serves as the one shining exception, thanks to a forward-thinking chief minister who turned a potential disaster into a racing enthusiast’s dream. Malakpet racecourse was sold to the club for a song, and now Hyderabad stands tall, immune to the endless litigation and bureaucratic tightropes that plague its counterparts.

Meanwhile, Madras Race Club can only hope for a similar stroke of luck—or a miracle. But until then, we are left to watch the curtain fall on what might be the last act of racing at this hallowed ground, wondering if this vaunted “game of skill” is destined to lose its stage to the whims of bureaucracy and indifference.

Ironically, it was Madras Race Club’s battle with the government in the Supreme Court that gave us the now-famous line declaring horse racing a “game of skill.” A victory for the club in name, but not enough to shield it from the government’s unyielding interference. While the Madras Race Club may have earned the sport a new title, it wasn’t skilful enough to retain its own racecourse when the odds were in its favour. Sure, the club owns chunks of land around the course—but not quite enough to build a new one. Still, it’s just enough to house the horses, for now, while everyone waits for the inevitable "alternate arrangement" that may—or may not—arrive.

This year’s Derby certainly has its share of intriguing contenders, some of whom could make a mark at the Indian Derby next month. Prasanna Kumar-trained Knotty Legend remains undefeated in all five of his outings. After a long gap between his fourth and fifth run, where he seemed to have a setback or just disappeared from the scene, he resurfaced at Pune towards the end of the season and delivered a resounding victory. Since then, he’s gone on to claim the South India 2000 Guineas in impressive style. Now, he's facing a relatively modest field of competitors, and with his established superiority, it might not take much for him to reaffirm his dominance. The real question is: How convincing will his win be? That’s the metric that will determine if he can truly challenge Santissimo in next month’s Indian Derby.

Knotty Legend should have no trouble dispatching Mysore 2000 Guineas winner John Wick and the late-entry Rodney. But there's a lingering doubt about how he’ll fare over the mile-and-a-half distance, even though Evaldo, another offspring of the speedy Gusto, won this very race a couple of years ago. What's particularly fascinating is that two of the finest horses in India right now—Knotty Legend and Santissimo—are both sired by Gusto. So, unless the glorious uncertainty of the sport decides to throw a curveball, this race should largely follow the script.