People’s Turf PLC Ltd (PTP), the second largest horse racing company in Mauritius, will be in charge of the opening day of the race on Sunday.
The Côte d’Or International Race Course and Entertainment Complex authorized MTCSL and People’s Turf PLC to alternate the use of the Champ-de-Mars for the horse racing events last Monday.
The HRD got the ball rolling for the first day of racing on Wednesday. Entries for the eight races on the schedule were released Thursday. The line draw and publication of the race program took place on Friday. HRD also made official the 2022 season schedule, which will include 40 days with no less than seven race weekends.
“We have been working day and night at the Champ-de-Mars to complete the work. Everything is going as planned so far. The machine is running. The specifications have been met. We must be ready to start the season on Sunday. We know that the turfmen are eager for the stalls to open,” says People’s Turf PLC CEO Khulwant Kumar Ubheeram.
Khulwant Kumar Ubheeram, who gave up owning horses to stay on as CEO of the company, announced that the Chairman will be former MTC president Kamal Taposeea. He will have Henry Le Blanc as his vice president. The management team will consist of: Nawaz Rawat (Head of Security), Kuwar Damadarsingh (Sampling Attendant), Nicolas Dupavillon (Clerk of The Course), Ravi Rawa (Starter).
The PTP has built a paddock in the middle of the Champ de Mars near the Trotting Track and the Malartic Tomb, and Saddling Boxes near the paddock to saddle the horses. While the jockey’s room, the race stewards’ room, the interview room for journalists and others are located in the building that once housed the PriceWaterhouse Coopers company and more recently a gambling house. Trainer Samraj Mahadia, former MTC race commissioner, had the opportunity to visit the place and he said he was pleasantly surprised by what he saw saying that it is of international standard.
The jockeys will finally be in the saddle on Sunday as they finally have an insurance plan from the new race organizer, People’s Turf PLC. Jockeys Association President Dinesh Sooful said he was pleased after a meeting organized by the PTP with an insurance company representative on Friday for trainers and jockeys.
The PTP plans to honor the grooms on this first day. All grooms including those from Floréal, regardless of their stables, will receive Rs 1000 on Sunday as a gift. There will also be other awards such as the “Best Turned Out Horse” who will receive Rs 25,000 as a prize.
This first day will be a “Grooms Day” and the People’s Turf PLC races will be named after former grooms such as ‘The Anand Caussy – Le Turbo Cup’. The main race will be called ‘The People’s Turf PLC Groom’s Day Cup’. The PTP will not use the classic race names used by the MTC.
