8 race horses linked to IPL-style league die in Jabalpur, allegedly due to malnutrition

Eight race horses that recently died in Jabalpur were part of a horse racing league project called Horse Power Sports League (HPSL), which was being developed in Hyderabad, according to sources.

These horses were among nearly 100 trained by a company named HithaNet India Pvt Ltd. The HPSL was created by Hyderabad-based tech expert Suresh Paladugu, who wanted to make horse racing more entertaining, like the Indian Premier League (IPL), and less focused on betting.

Paladugu said to TOI he was only responsible for the league’s technical and streaming support, not the care of the horses. He claimed he had no direct link to the deaths in Jabalpur. He added that the league’s trial races were shown in different countries, including the Philippines.


Sources said the horses were moved to Jabalpur after the league was paused, as it failed to get big sponsors. Paladugu’s idea was to show simple two-horse races to make the sport easier to follow and more popular, especially for local breeds.

A representative of HithaNet, Pavani Gaddam, said the horses were moved to Jabalpur because the company also has farming work there, and their lease with Hyderabad Racing Club had ended. She said the horses were healthy when moved and that all transport rules were followed.

Gaddam added that there’s no plan yet to bring the horses back to Hyderabad. She also said the horses don’t have to be used only for racing — they can be used for breeding, polo, movies, or even sold.

[With TOI inputs]