The Gambling Regulatory Authority hereby informs the public that following the incident which occurred on Saturday 18th June 2022, on the 3rd Race Meeting prior to the 7th race where the name of a provisional winner namely “Candle Cove” was displayed live on MBC TV prior to the 7th race being run and the official results of the 7th race being officially declared by the Horse Racing Division, the Authority has today Monday 20th June 2022 urgently opened an enquiry in the above matter to determine whether the integrity of that race has been undermined or breached in any manner whatsoever.
For the purposes of the enquiry, the Authority had summoned and sought explanations from the Head of Horse Racing Division, the Chief Stipe and Stipes who were on duty during that race, the Chief Executive Officer and preposes of the Horse Racing Organiser and the personnel of the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation who were in charge of the live broadcasting and streaming of the races on that day.
Following the hearing of all the above concerned parties during the enquiry, in the presence of the Integrity Officer, more specifically after taking into consideration the averments and admissions of the representative from the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, it has been conclusively and unambiguously established before the Authority, that the above incident was a result of a bugging problem related to the relevant server of the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation utilized by its technicians for the purpose of displaying Horse Introduction on the track, names of provisional winner followed by official results. Whilst the technicians were trying to resolve the bugging problem, the server temporarily switched to the pattern of provisional winner on the screen accidentally for a duration of around 3 seconds. The Authority is satisfied of the conclusions of the findings of the enquiry which establishes that the integrity of the race has not been undermined or breached in any manner whatsoever.
Moreover, the attention of the Horse Racing Organiser was drawn to a few other issues which have cropped up during the holding of the 3rd and 4th Race Meetings and the latter has undertaken to take all the necessary remedial actions for the future.
The Authority would like to seize this opportunity to express its strong objection to the derogatory and demeaning remarks and personal attacks being repeatedly made against the person of the Head of the Horse Racing Division, Mr Wayne Wood by certain members of the press and the Authority once again reiterates its appreciation and full support to Mr Wood and his Horse Racing Division team.
