Mauritius Turf Club bicentenary celebrations
The Mauritius Turf Club has a long and proud history and close ties with South African horseracing. The club’s 2012 bicentenary celebrations got under way last weekend with a sponsored raceday, headed by the Gr2 Gold Circle Mauritius Guineas Cup run over 1600m.
Visiting dignitaries representing Gold Circle, Phumelela, Racing South Africa and the Racing Association attended the meeting, and this included an international media contingent representing the print and electronic media.
Long History
The Mauritius Turf Club was founded around 12 June 1812, when British Governor Robert Farquhar instructed that the rules be drawn for the first race meeting.
This historic first race-meeting was held on 25 June 1812.
Four ‘classic’ and four ‘semi-classic’ races are run each year during the racing season. The most popular event remains The Maiden Cup, traditionally run over 2400 metres. The first “classic” race of the season, the Duchess of York Cup, is held at the start of the racing season and is reserved for newly imported horses. The classic races draw large crowds to the Champ de Mars.
However, in line with worldwide trends over the past decade, the on-course attendance has declined. The average Saturday crowd is now around 7000, and it is estimated that 3 in every 4 Mauritians enjoy a punt on the horses. Tote turnover in 2011 was 1,6 million rupees, while bookmaker betting amounted to 3,6 million rupees.
Picture Perfect
The MTC was one of the first racing clubs in the world to install a photo-finish system in 1949. That was a locally produced model and it was upgraded in 2004.
The starting stalls were first used in 1962 to accommodate 8 runners and, since then, they have been upgraded to accommodate 11 runners.
In 1985, an electronic weighing scale was introduced for improved accuracy and reliability in terms of handicap weights.
With a view to adding to the professionalism of the overall product, making the racing organisation more professional, security and control have also improved over the past two decades. Blood samples are taken from all horses prior to their participation in a race for analysis by the MTC Laboratory, a certified facility. All winning horses’ blood and urine samples are analysed. A sample that is tested positive to any banned substance is sent overseas, for cross-check analysis.l
To further enhance control, the horses entered for an event are supervised in their respective stables 3 days prior to a race day. A surveillance team closely monitors the feed as well as nursing and training activities of the horses. For a closer monitoring of the races, cameras have been installed at strategic positions and offer multi-angle recordings of the races, thus enabling the stewards to better monitor the running of the races.
Saturday’s meeting was well attended and included the likes of Gold Circle Chairman Robert Mauvis, Acting Gold Circle CEO Michel Nairac,Racing SA’s Peter Gibson, Vee Moodley and Clyde Basel of Phumelela and Bloodstock SA’s Jan Naude. CEO Larry Wainstein represented the Racing Association.
The formey Joey Ramsden-trained IL Saggiatore won the 2011 KZN Derby, and the 2012 renewal , won this weekend by Master Plan, was run again just 24 hours after IL Saggiatore had won the main event at the Champ de Mars. The Gold Circle Mauritius Guineas Cup proved a spectacular event to watch and the finish had the crowd on their feet.
The former Ingrid and Markus Jooste-owned IL Saggiatore has proven a revelation on the island and Robbie Burke got him going to rally late to catch the big leader, Green Keeper, on whom Johnny Geroudis tried to steal a big lead.
This Saturday
The final field for the main event this coming Saturday, the Le Trophée du Bicentenaire du MTC, (The Bicentennial Trophy) a Gr1 run over 1500m , were declared on Monday.
Interestingly the rampant IL Saggiatore will yet again be in action, and the Gujadhur Stable will also be represented by Acuppa and Modern Monet.
The field of eleven runners is : Ice Axe and Capitaine (R.Maingard), Royal Chalon (C.Ramdin), The Cardinal (P.Foo Kune): Profit Report and National Play (S.Henry). Jockeys will be confirmed on Thursday.
A Trainers’ and Jockeys’ Championship, organized on the occasion of the MTC’s Bicentennial, also reaches its climax this Saturday. After the 14th meeting, the standings are as follows :
Trainers : Bertrand de Coriolis (Foo Kune Stable) – 31 points, Gilbert Rousset (Rousset Stable) – 30 points and Patrick Merven (Merven Stable) – 26 points.
Jockeys : Rye Joorawon – 36 points, Johnny Geroudis – 29 points, and Benedict Woodworth – 24 points.
An overview of last Saturday’s results
Race 1- THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS TROPHY 1365m
Winner : PORT ALBERT ridden by R.Joorawon for C. Ramdin
Race 2- THE RACING SOUTH AFRICA TROPHY 1000m
Winner: SUNDAY MONDAY ridden by C.Segeon for P.Merven
Race 3 – THE PHUMELELA GAMING AND LEISURE LTD TROPHY 1500m
Winner – KEY OF GOLD ridden by N.Juglall for M.Ramdin
Race 4 – THE PHUMELELA GOLD ENTERPRISES TROPHY 1365m
Winner – ULY ridden by B.Woodworth for P. Foo Kune
Race 5 – THE RACING ASSOCIATION TROPHY 1600m
Winner – FROM MY HEART ridden by J.Geroudis for G.Rousset
Race 6 – THE Gold Circle MAURITIUS GUINEAS CUP 1600m
Winner – IL SAGGIATORE ridden by R.Burke for Gujadhur
Race 7 – THE BLOODSTOCK SOUTH AFRICA TROPHY 1600m
Winner – HOW MANY TO WON ridden by R.Joorawon for Perdrau
Race 8 – THE MERRY MAJOR PLATE 1365m
Winner – LIAM ridden by B.Woodworth for P. Foo Kune
