Ambitious projects launched by Malta Racing Club

On Friday, Prime Minister Dr Eddie Fenech Adami will be inaugurating the new entrance and the new Lighting Facilities at the Malta Racing Club (MRC). The event will be transmitted live on TVM, highlighting yet another landmark achievement for MRC which augurs well for the future of this sport in Malta.

There are thousands of horse-racing enthusiasts, as well as other related sport disciplines such as Polo. These will appreciate the latest infrastructure developments at the Marsa racing track.

Horse-racing in Malta has a fascinating history spanning hundreds of years. It is believed that probably even before the 16th century horse races were set up in streets of local towns and villages where peasants and noble men alike took part in what was the local pioneering endeavour in this sport.

L-Imnarja races held every summer are a classical remnant of this past, practiced from the times of the Knights of St John and still drawing crowds in their hundreds till this very day.

In the 19th century the British - ardent followers of this sport - joined a number of prominent local citizens instituting the MRC with the intention of building a racetrack in Marsa.

Notwithstanding financial difficulties, the newly set-up MRC succeeded in building a proper racetrack where organised races could finally be held.

Interestingly, upon completion in 1869, the Marsa's mile-and-three-quarters long racetrack was actually the longest in Europe.

Following this launch, the Marsa racing track has experienced tremendous interest - even in difficult war time periods - from Maltese of various social background together with a number of English people whose experience was to leave an impressive mark on this sport in Malta for the years to come.

Since then, the Malta racing track had important milestones such as the rebuilding of the track in 1981 with the help of Italian architect Mauro whose plans were inspired from the renowned Agnano racetrack in Italy.

In 1982, the auto-start was introduced followed a year later by the photo finish, promoted this sport on a national and international level.

The affiliation of the Malta Racing Club Committee with the UET (Union Européenne du Trot) in the early 90s plus the hosting of the first international event in Malta - the UET Championship of Apprentice Drivers, in 1993, consolidated Malta's achievements in this field. The UET was so impressed with the holding of these events in Malta that they were held again here in 1995 and 1998.

Moreover, the local participant in the Euro Championship for apprentice drivers, 25-year-old Tony Cauchi came first in this important event. This was no mere undertaking. Malta's success against traditional giants in this sport was extremely impressive, a fruition of hundreds of years of sacrifice and passionate dedication.

Over the past years, the present committee under the direction of chairman George Fenech, has worked hard to improve this sport. They have undertaken the ambitious tasks of the installation of the artificial lights and embellishment of the racing grounds, as is the case with the newly erected entrance facilities.

These landmark developments are commendable achievements even by international standards.

The Malta Racing Track with its close proximity to Marsa SC offers unique venue potentials which could help place Malta on the map of international events.

Such events, if held in Malta, could generate increased interest in sport-oriented tourism, besides fostering more local participation. With the current developments underway, this potential might very well come true.