Jean-Michel Giraud, President of the Mauritius Turf Club Sports and Leisure (MTCSL) is categorical. In a press conference on Tuesday, July 20, he did not hide his bitterness towards the amendments proposed in the Finance Bill that was presented in first reading in Parliament. According to him, the State, through the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) and the Horse Racing Division, will control horse racing; not only the betting but the organization of the races. “The state already appoints the appeals committee. Now, with this law, it will also have to appoint the stipes. It is the government that will have to decide which race will be on the program for each category”, insists Jean-Michel Giraud. Such a law, according to him, should have been discussed with the Mauritius Turf Club Sports and Leisure. “The government will decide who will have a stable license, trainer, jockey and even owner. We will only be left with the role of cutting the grass, handing over the cups and collecting the urine samples to give to the laboratory. The MTCSL will no longer be the horse racing organizer. The regulator becomes the operator through this law. This is the end of a 209 year old institution” underlines the president of the MTC.
Jean-Michel Giraud recalled that the GRA, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance have so far refused to meet with him since his election as president of the MTC last March.
He stressed that he has alerted international authorities such as the European Union and the FATF, because for him and the MTCSL, what the government wants to do is not consistent with international standards and good governance.
