Racing for excellence

On settling into his offices, it is easy to see his passion for horses in the paintings and photographs of the magnificent animals. We get right down to business. When asked if he thinks the proposed privatisation will do the Malta Racing Club (MRC) any good   Brincat says: “If the club continues to operate as it does at the moment, on the contributions of horse-owners, then there is little possibility for major works to improve the club.

“If government is not ready to invest heavily then the only other plausible solution is to invite private investors.”

Brincat goes on to confirm rumours that the government is in preliminary stages of privatising what will be known as the Marsa Complex. This may be in the form of one company taking over the management of the entire complex or in the form of joint management depending on the interest shown following the issue of an expression of interest. The racetrack is only part of the government’s proposed plans. To fall under the project are the MRC, including the old racetrack, the Royal Malta Golf Club, the Royal Malta Polo Club, the Marsa Sports Club, the Athletics Club and the Archery Club.

“It is the intention of government to set up a state-of-the-art equestrian village to promote equestrians sports and see them practiced on a more international level.”

The MRC was founded in 1868 when a small group of military and naval officers, together with some of the local gentry, set up the club to promote the already popular sport. Brincat, a lawyer by profession, has been chairman of the MRC since 2008 and is striving to bring racing back to its former glory. Over the past two years, together with his council, he was responsible for the heavy investment in the leveling of the track and the importation of sand for the new surface from Montenegro, as well as enhancements of the old racetrack and the paddock area.

The council of the MRC, as it stands today, consists of eight members, five of which are nominated by government while the remaining three are elected from the horse-owners to ensure the welfare of the animals is taken into consideration. “Privatisiation may or may not change the set up of the club,” Brincat adds.

As things stand, no concrete plans have been drafted. Government has been in talks with all the concerned parties to come up with a list of requirements the individual sports need to be practiced on a more professional level. Technicalities have been discussed to create a plan that will make best use of the available land in Marsa. Although some plans exist they are not binding for the investor. The government will insist that all the facilities are included in the project and propose their own plans, though the final plans will be at the discretion of the investors.

“From the equestrian point of view, there have been proposals to build a new flat racetrack that will run for a total of 1,600 – 1,700 metres, a new surface for the polo pitch, a dressage and show jumping arena with annexed stables, a clinic, a training track and a possible extension to the main trotting track.”

The MRC are in full support of this initiative. Brincat has stressed to all horse enthusiasts that they “should all welcome any initiative by government whose only goal is to create a state-of-the-art equestrian village.”

He goes on to explain that such a centre will encourage the importation of better, younger horses that will boost Malta’s competitiveness at an international level.

Earlier this year, the MRC hosted the equestrian festival, where all equestrian sports pooled together to organise a successful day out of demonstrations of dressage, polo, children’s games and races. “This proved Marsa has the potential to host the different equestrian sports.”

Responding to rumours that the government has hinted at the MRC to cease all developments in light of the proposed privatisation, Brincat denies all allegations. “The MRC is presently effecting works and improvements to the surface and leveling of the main trotting track. The rumours and gossip are just that.” Brincat adds that any improvements to the racetrack will encourage investors, and he sees this as a positive move for the future.

“In fact, in the past week the main track had a good amount of gravel removed and a gravel separator is dividing the finer particles that will be applied to serve as a finer surface to the track.”

The track will re-open for normal training on 22 August and racing resumes on 10 September for evening races.

The MRC has invested heavily in the old racetrack by building a water duct to avoid flooding and leveling of its surface last year allowed races to be continued until the main racetrack was re-opened. It is important to for the MRC to keep this old racetrack as it provides an alternative for training to the current one, while it undergoes works.

The old racetrack, which is 1,300 metres long, is used regularly for training and for the very popular pony races that draw huge crowds.

“We invested in a starting gate vehicle which is used in the old racetrack and that has contributed to upgrading the standard of the races.

“We sincerely hope that the old racetrack will continue to serve regular training, pony racing and general hacking for all other equestrian sports to use. The dressage and jumping horses will definitely use the old racetrack for training and leisure.”

“With all this in mind, the MRC will continue to upgrade and assure all horse owners that the old racetrack will continue to be improved for the enjoyment of all.”

Brincat concludes that he is looking forward to the changes which are in the pipeline and encourages all horse enthusiasts to support the government initiative.