The Mauritius Turf Club (MTC) filed, this Friday, April 29, an application for an injunction against the Port Louis City Council, the Ministry of Lands and Housing and the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA)before the Supreme Court.
The MTC asked the judge to issue an injunction prohibiting the transfer of exclusive use of the Champ de Mars to the Horse Racing Division of the GRA.
The MTC is also seeking an interim order prohibiting the Port Louis City Council from giving effect to its letter of April 27, 2022, for the termination of the lease for the Champ de mars racecourse, an agreement dated July 2, 2008 and valid till 2028.
The request for an injunction was presented by Me Dya Ghose-Radhakeesoon, attorney representing the MTC, to Judge Aruna Devi Narain.
The latter refused to issue the injunction in the absence of the opposing parties. She summoned the representatives of the Port Louis City Council, the Ministry of Lands and Housing, the GRA and the MTC Sports and Leisure Limited (MTCSL) to appear before her on Monday, May 2, 2022, to explain themselves. The MTCSL is named as Co-defendant in the case.
Despite the blows received with the termination of the “Concession of Privilege” of the Champ-de-Mars by the town hall of Port-Louis, and the refusal of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) to give him his license of ‘Horse Racing Organiser’ (HRO), Mauritius Turf Club (MTC) and MTC Sports and Leisure Ltd (MTCSL) have gotten back on track and legal action is being considered.
That was the recent episode in the fight between the GRA and the MTC. The GRA awarded a race organiser license to the MTCSL April 15. The MTSCL, then refused to sign asking to know the conditions attached. The GRA sent the conditions to the MTC/MTCSL on April 22. The boards of the MTC and MTCSL rejected three of the 25 terms and conditions.
The Municipality of Port-Louis, which acted under the directive of the Ministry of Local Government, Disaster and Risk Management, informed the MTC of the termination of the “Concession of Privilege” concerning the lease granted for the use of the Champ-de-Mars on Wednesday, April 27.
The two MTCSL directors went to Newton Tower before 1pm on Thursday, April 28, to make payment for HRO’s license agreeing to all the conditions imposed by the GRA. It was refuses. The reason given is that the MTCSL no longer has a racecourse to organise the races. The GRA noted MTCSL’s move to accept all the conditions attached to its license and suggested that MTCSL return once it has a racetrack.
The government, through the Ministry of Lands and Housing, has taken possession of the track and its surroundings. And the future of racing is in the hands of the state.
