Horse racing owners rage at dilapidating state of Marsa Racetrack

Trotters’ health put at risk as facilities not up to standard

Horse racing owners are seething by the poor state of the Marsa Horse Racing Track is currently in just a few weeks before the 2024 season resumes.

Over the past week, several owners contacted the Times of Malta, on condition of anonymity, to express their frustration over the dilapidating state of horse racing track that has been hosting racing since 1869.

Several owners highlighted their concern about facing the prospect of racing their horses in very dangerous conditions, putting the well-being of their trotters at serious risk.

The racetrack, which will be hosting races in less than a month, is covered with gravel instead of sand while key facilities such as the paddock area, where it hosts trotters before races, and the old racecourse, cannot be used as they are full of rubble.

The track also lacks essential infrastructure, horse owners say.

There are no working generators, meaning night-time races are at risk of being plunged into darkness should there be a power outage. Damaged canopies, supposed to shelter horses from the sun, are also on the brink of collapse.

All this adds up to a number of unfulfilled promises by the government and Malta Racing Club of embarking on a regeneration project that dates back to 2019.

The Marsa Horse Racing track is managed by Equidrome Malta which was formed in 2019 and is run by Malta Race Track Limited.

They were formed to fulfil a €28 million project launched by the government, during a press conference in Castille, to regenerate the facilities at the Marsa Race Track.

The project was not just the racetrack itself and the existing Polo pitch but was to include facilities for different equestrian sports.

It was to become a place where everyone could practice different equestrian sports whether it was harness racing, flat racing, pony racing, polo, show jumping, dressage, horse shows and events.

Modern stabling facilities were also promised to be built with training and rehab facilities that would ensure the welfare and well-being of the horses.

During a press conference by the Government and the Marsa Racetrack Limited consortium in 2019, it was stated that within four years from the signing of the contract, the consortium would be committed to transform the horse racing track into an international sports centre.

Lawyer Pio Valletta, at the time part of the consortium, had stated that while the programme of local horse races will continue to be held, with an increase in prizes, talks have been held with international racecourses with the aim of organising competitions in Malta.

He had announced that he had an arrangement with the stables of Sheikh al Makhtum of Dubai to organise races for horses brought over from Dubai to run in Malta.

On his part, former Primer Minister Joseph Muscat had said that the project’s MOU signing was in line with the government’s plan to boost investment in the south of Malta as had been done with the placing of the American University in the Żonqor area in Marsacala.

But five years have since passed and not only none of the above came to fruition, and the Marsa Horse Racing track is currently in its worst-ever state. It’s no suprise that owners have expressed their anger at the current situation as they feel that they are being taken for a ride by authorities.

“We love to race but we still accepted their decision to take a few weeks’ break, particularly given the very hot climatic conditions we had this summer,” a horse racing owner said.

“But unfortunately, no work has been done to improve the facilities. The facilities are at their worse state ever and I am seriously fearing the wellbeing of my horse.”

The owner added that the paddock had been closed off after being filled with rubble.

“This means that during the 20-minute period between one race and another you have 16 horses which do not have any area where to wait before the start of their race,” the owner said.

He said a canopy to protect drivers and horses from the rain and sun has been severely damaged and there is danger that it could collapse and injure someone.

The horse racing owners complained that sand was brought in to cover the racetrack a few weeks ago but “they brought the wrong kind of sand as it’s full of gravel.”

Another owner claimed that when the mistake was realised, fresh sand was ordered but it was “mixed with the wrong one and put on the racing track with the result that horses will race on a surface full of gravel with a major risk of injury as could end up with a stone in their nails posing serious consequences.”

Horses and their drivers are also running a serious risk during racing programmes held at night at Marsa as there are no generators working should electricity go off, according to the horse owners.

“If there is a power cut at the Marsa Racing Track during a race at night, drivers and horses are put at a major risk of getting hurt seriously,” the owners said.

“There is a major accident awaiting to happen if there is a power cut at night as generators don’t work as drivers and horses end up racing in darkness and they risk of colliding with each other.

“It is unacceptable that there is no electrical generator in place to come to aid if a power cut happens.”

The absence of a backup power source is another pressing issue.

“If there is a power cut at the Marsa racing track during a race at night, drivers and horses are put at a major risk of getting seriously hurt,” the owners said.

The old racecourse situated behind the racetrack is also unavailable for drivers and owners as tons of rubble have been dumped along the course, leaving no space for drivers to run their horses.

Horse racing owners also said that they have little incentive to be successful in the local scene as the prize money on offer is very low when compared to foreign competitions and prizes are given out months after the actual race.

It’s no surprise that more Maltese owners are looking at buying horses and take them to compete in foreign countries, where there is a better financial return in terms of prize money.

“When it comes to prize money here in Malta it doesn’t minimally compete with other foreign countries,” one owner said.

“In Malta if you win a Premier class race, which is the highest division, you pocket €600. In France, if you win a low-key race you take home €7,000.

“Of more concern is that in Malta you wait for months to be given the money you have won.

“Despite all this we are still driven by our passion for the sport, and we still invest in buying new horses even though we have very little return.”

Last month a Maltese buyer, Steve Farrugia, paid a record €740,000 for a yearling trotter in France, where it will stay to compete in the French scene.

Owners say that the Marsa Racetrack is not a family-aimed venue where owners and drivers can take their family to spend the day during the weekend.

“The facilities at the Marsa Racetrack do not cater for drivers and owners to bring their young family to enjoy the day there,” one owner said.

“There are no dining facilities of good level where one can eat something, and children are forced to stay sitting down on a bench for four hours as there is no entertaining area for them.

“In other countries, horse racing tracks have personnel who provide entertainment for children and one can pay €5 for a day and your wife and children can enjoy themselves for the day. Here in Malta this doesn’t exist and the racetrack owners are missing out on the possibility of making some income from such an initiative.”

Amid all this difficult situation for horse racing lovers, it’s surprising how the Malta Racing Club and Equestri Malta, the regulatory body appointed by the government.

Equestri Malta’s main function is to ‘focus mainly on the promotion of equine sports, improvement of training and competitive facilities, education and training, international opportunities for athletes, the wellbeing of the horses, raising the bar in the quality and infrastructure of the sport,’ but it has remained unactive on the current situation but found time to accompany drivers in various events at foreign racecourses.

Times of Malta has sent questions to the track management and the sports ministry.