Sunday 15 May marked a year since SA Jockey Academy graduate Nooresh Juglall passed away following a heavy fall on the first day of the 2021 racing season at the Champ de Mars.
On Monday the Mauritius Turf Club welcomed the Juglall family to the Champ de Mars to pay tribute to the popular Nooresh.
The Juglall family proudly receive the acknowledgement to honour their champion
As part of the acknowledgement to one of the best riders to emerge from Mauritius, a facility at the racecourse has been renamed ‘The Nooresh Juglall Lounge’.
His photograph now also features prominently in the historic track’s weighing room.
A dual champion apprentice in South Africa in 2012 and 2013, Nooresh, 29 when the tragedy occurred, is also the record holder for the number of victories (101) for an apprentice in one season.
He also rode in Zimbabwe, Qatar and Hong Kong, while he finished in the Top 5 on the Singapore jockey log five seasons in a row.
He spent the last 2 years of his career on the island, riding with tremendous success for the Gilbert Rousset yard. In both 2019 and 2020, he was crowned Top Mauritian Jockey titles, and ironically ended his final season Champion Jockey.
In a brief speech on Monday, MTC Secretary Benoît Halbwachs thanked the Juglall family for their presence, and the Rousset yard for helping organize the tribute to Nooresh.
The MTC’s Benoit Halbwachs addresses the Juglall family
“He was one of the best Mauritian jockeys of all time and he was a champion jockey in his last competitive season here. We wanted to do something symbolic in his honour that will remain forever. Hence the decision to rename the Barred Cards section The Nooresh Juglall Lounge,” added Halbwachs.
The late rider’s father Mohunlall Juglall expressed his appreciation for the invitation and the gesture in honour of his son. He said that the naming of the venue, together with the portrait in the weighing room, will ensure that his son will never be forgotten.
