In a sport where everybody is viewed with suspicion, Jagdish enjoyed the affection of race-goers for over 40 years because of his integrity. ``People considered me an honest jockey and had faith in me. The general public, Stewards and colleagues honored me with their affection.'' This has been my greatest satisfaction, he says. '' What counts in the final analysis is the reputation that Jagdish carried with the regular racegoer - an opinion which found expression in the poll conducted by the periodical Horses and Courses in 1977. Normally cynical and opinionated racegoers voted him the most reliable and honest jockey seen for years.
Further comment is superfluous.
Jagdish Singh Chauhan is without dispute a living legend of Indian racing. During his riding days, Jagidsh enjoyed the total trust of race-goers, the confidence of his owners and trainers and the admiration of the authorities. He was always well behaved, never vicious and a perfect gentleman.
Jagdish delighted Indian railbirds for well over four decades. He rode over 1960 winners and had success in 98 classics. He quit in 1986 at the age of 56, just short of achieving a grand double, i.e. 2000 winners and 100 classics, due to a nagging back injury and pressure from his family to give up the spartan lifestyle and risks associated with a topflight jockey. ``I never consciously went after records. My overriding ambition right through my career was always to win,'' says Jagdish who could have gone on to achieve the coveted landmark had he wished to.