Inside the dome of the National Sports Club Of India (NSCI) at Worli in Mumbai, the 36th Asian Racing Conference, under the leadership of Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and his organizing committee, kicked off to a grand start yesterday night.

The 500-plus delegates from over 20 nations around the world, all stake holders of horse racing in their respective countries, were transfixed by the keynote address delivered by princess Zahra, daughter of Agha Khan, whose family has been involved passionately with horse racing for nearly 250 years. The princess, dressed in a traditional, black Indian saree, talked about the values and ethical practices her family, right from the times of her great, great, great grandfather scrupulously followed when breeding and racing all over the world, including India, where horses in their silks win almost all important races between 1926 and 1966.