After numerous delays to the 2022 racing season, Mauritius horseracing is facing a crisis after the City Council of Port Louis issued a notice on Wednesday terminating the lease of the Mauritius Turf Club’s use of the state-owned land on which the Champ de Mars racecourse is situated.
While the weather was initially cited as a reason for the delayed start to the new term, this may well not have been the only hindrance. In a letter dated 27 April signed by the Chief Executive of the Municipal City Council of Port Louis, and of which the Sporting Post has had sight, the Mauritius Turf Club (MTC) is informed that it currently does not hold a licence issued by the Gambling Regulatory Authority as a horse racing operator.
The underlying purpose of the lease agreement, which was signed on 2 July 2005 between the MTC and the government, for the use of the property housing the Port Louis racecourse, cannot now be legally fulfilled.
The MTC sub-let the Champ de Mars to MTC Sports and Leisure Ltd (MTCSL), a public company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the MTC, for the organisation of race meetings. The MTCSL was the horse racing operator for the 2021 horse racing season.
The 2022 horseracing season was due to commence on 23 April, but the MTCSL is apparently refusing to accept some of the conditions imposed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority on its Horse Racing Organiser Licence for the new racing season.
The City Council states that the MTC is technically not legally in a position to host racemeetings at the Champ de Mars.
The Council adds that in the current scenario, the State will be deprived of a substantial amount of tax revenue in the form of betting taxes, while all stakeholders who directly or indirectly derive their livelihood from the game, will also be adversely impacted upon.
While there has been talk of another racecourse being built, insiders suggest that the lease cancellation move this week could likely see the Mauritius Government take control of horseracing on the island.
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, which was held on 25 June 1812.
South African jockey Chase Maujean recently arrived with his family to take up a position with the Rameshwar Gujadhur stable.
The Sporting Post is endeavouring to obtain a comment from the MTC.
