The Mauritius Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has announced an investigation into Saturday’s fatal accident at the Champ de Mars.
The 29 year old 2020 champion jockey Nooresh Juglall.died from injuries sustained from a fall at the Champ de Mars course on the opening day of the season which was behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The DPP, Satyajit Boolell, said that it is his duty to launch a judicial inquiry.
“It is important to shed light on the circumstances that led to the death of the rider”, Boolell told the media.
“Was there negligence regarding the track’s condition or was it a pure accident?”
The accident involved a second horse that left its jockey Benedict Woodworth with a serious elbow injury.
The accident happened as the runners crossed over a road that bisects the track just before the final straight.
Woodworth’s mount Golden Tractor fell and Juglall and his horse Rule the Night, who were immediately behind, were unable to avoid the stricken pair and as a result Juglall was thrown from his horse.
The accident left Juglall unconscious as he was rushed to a private clinic in Port Louis but passed away later on Saturday night.
The Champ de Mars is the oldest racetrack in the southern hemisphere and one of the oldest in the world having been founded in 1812.
