Yesterday's meeting at Marsa included three races from the Mediterranean Championships, two for trotters on 2,140m, and a flat Open race on 2,250m.
In all, 12 countries participated at the championship races, won by drivers from France, Cyprus and Russia.
The rest of the card consisted of six trotting races, three on 2,140m and the other three on the shorter distance of 1,640m.
However, most of the attention was on the championship races as the Malta Racing Club enhanced the occasion with a parade in honour of the visiting delegations and other activities with a cultural theme to highlight the country's traditions.
Noel Baldacchino was the meeting's best driver yesterday with two wins.
In the first Mediterranean trotting race (Silver Class) Stonecreek, driven by Ukraine's Olga Bondar, led for most of the distance but midway through the final straight it was overtaken by eventual winner Black Guy, controlled by Jean Paul Fasquelle (France).
Prince Brilliance, of Russia's Sergei Sablin, was third behind Stonecreek.
In the other championship race for trotters (Gold Class), Maltese driver Frenċu Cassar, with Matador Knick, took the lead 500m away from the post and was cruising towards a win but at the very end was surprised by Nasdaq Du Closet (Sablin).
Matador Knick was second ahead of Kaki de Peyrahout (Bondar).
Many at Marsa thought that local jockey Michael Sultana, on Minnow, was on his way to winning the Mediterranean Championship race yesterday after leading for most of the flat event.
However, a few metres away from the finish Minnow was first overtaken by Lordswood (Chris-toforos Christoforou, Cyprus) and then by Maria La Perfida (Ahmed Lakjal, Morocco).
The next meeting at the Marsa Racetrack is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.
The winners
Race 1: Copper, Rybo Rosebuddy (J. Bartolo).
Race 2: Copper, Glenn Healy (C. Gerada).
Race 3: Bronze, Ingo Moon (C. Camilleri).
Race 4: Med. Championship (Silver), Black Guy (J.P. Fasquelle, France).
Race 5: Med. Flat Championship, Lordswood (C. Christoforou, Cyprus).
Race 6: Gold, Match de Bannes (N. Baldacchino).
Race 7: Med. Championship (Gold), Nasdaq du Closet (S. Sablin, Russia).
Race 8: Silver, Falco (R. Gatt).
Race 9: Silver, Judon Du Cap Vert (N. Baldacchino).