42nd and 43rd horse-racing meetings

A total of 20 races will be held with 9 trotting races and a flat race in each meeting.

All trot classes will be in action this weekend over the 2,140m distance, with some horses returning after the summer break whilst others have already been in action in the last couple of weeks.

Each programme includes among others a Premier class race (8th race on the card) in which some of Malta’s leading trotters will be competing. The list includes Prix de Vincennes winner Madis Boy and runner-up Liosco Atout, Tazza l-Kbira Final runner-up Kakisis and the winner of the Malta leg of the Malta/Sicily Friendship races My Red Force.

Eleven horses are scheduled to make their debut: Kejser Engely (DK) in the Bronze class, Jens (SE), Naja du Tija (FR), Negus de Fleur (FR) and Ollia Devol (FR) in the Silver class, Brokkur T.Y.C. (SE), Kobber Dust (SE), Muflier des Fleurs (FR), Mustang de Belfin (FR) and Zerbin (SE) in the Gold class and Vikens Freeman (SE) in the Premier class. Interestingly, Swedish 10-year old gelding Vikens Freeman, winner of no less than SEK1,317,158 in its overseas career had placed among the top 20 highest 4-year old prize-winners in Sweden in 2004.

On the other hand, Zerbin is a Swedish gelding which is merely 6 years old and which has already won SEK425,750 in its overseas career. It is not that normal that horses making their debut locally at such a young age have enough overseas winnings to race in the Gold Class.

Flat racing will also mark its return this weekend with a race in each meeting for Class A horses over the 1,750m distance. One race will group together horses which have already won in Malta whilst the other is a maiden race involving horses which are still to register their first win locally.

Interestingly, Sunday’s race is scheduled to feature no less than six new horses (Wildnis (DE), Tarrugi (IR), Uncle Bertie (UK), Ollie Fliptrik (US), Spectrum Bond (IR) and Salsa des Pres (FR)) confirming once again the increase in interest in this discipline here in Malta. Well done to those involved in the promotion of flat racing and to the owners who have invested in it, for having managed to kick-start a discipline that had been on the wane for a number of years.

If last Friday’s spectacle is anything to go by, the coming meetings are expected to be very interesting. Indeed the last meeting produced various close and exciting finishes, culminating with the win registered by champion In Vitro du Bourg which sprinted on the outside and beat a very strong field in style. It was its 30th win on the Island (out of 50 races locally) in a time of 1’15’4 per kilometre, the best time on this distance this year, thus exceeding Euro37,000 in total winnings in Malta.

We also saw further efforts being made by the Malta Racing Club in terms of livening up race-meetings. Presentations to winners took place at the end of every race as well as continuous commentaries, interviews with drivers and another interview on Monte’ racing, announcements regarding future meetings, etc.

Further initiatives are planned, such as radio transmissions from the racecourse. These are important to continue promoting the sport and to make the Marsa racetrack a fun place for the whole family. Well done also to those giving a helping hand in this effort; it was fantastic to watch journalists, owners and other interested parties working together to produce a spectacular meeting for all those present.

Source: maltaracingclub.com