This is the opinion of Jean-Michel Giraud, who thinks that the PM has been misinformed and that we are indeed witnessing the nationalization of horse racing
The Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth did not reassure the horse racing industry during his speech on the ‘Finance Bill’ in Parliament. For the Mauritius Turf Club (MTC) and the MTC Sports and Leisure, the establishment of a Horse Racing Division under the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) means, quite simply, the nationalization of horse racing.
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has said that the amendments to the Gambling Regulatory Act will revitalize the horse racing industry. The law was amended to force financial institutions not to honor transactions related to illegal betting on the Internet.
However, with the creation of a Horse Racing Division, the role of the MTC will be considerably reduced. As Jean-Michel Giraud, President of the Mauritius Turf Club (MTC) explains –
“I do not believe that this bill is for the good of horse racing in Mauritius, despite what the Prime Minister said in his address to Parliament. I think he has been misinformed or misguided. The Prime Minister said that the MTC will always be the organizer of the races, but this is not the case. It is the one who makes the races that organizes the races. The Horse Racing Division will license the jockeys and owners, set the handicaps for the horses and the racecards. It will be this division that will do the stiping and rating of the horses. It is therefore this entity that will organize the races.”
The President of the International Horseracing Authority also stressed that this law corresponds to the nationalization of the industry.
“Our role is to make sure that the cameras are working, to put the horses in the stalls and to maintain the turf,” said the MTC president.
He adds that he is meeting with Tote officials this Friday, August 6, as well as with MTC lawmen in the next few days to decide what to do next.
