The 2013 Mauritius racing season has ended on a dramatic note following the suspension of six jockeys earlier this week. The Mauritius Turf Club has referred the matter to the police.
The MTC Racing Stewards opened an enquiry into the handling of certain horses in the first race of the 40th meeting on Saturday. There was an element of twisted irony in the proceedings, with names like Drug Squad and The Sneaker, following the win by Zip It. The incident has overshadowed the International Jockeys Weekend, the traditional end of season celebrations on the Indian Ocean Island.
The summonsed jockeys and trainers were allowed to give evidence and after hearing their explanations, the stewards sanctioned six jockeys.
1. Nishal Teeha (Manta Ridge) who pleaded guilty under the rule 160 (A) a of Rules Of Racing. He was suspended for 12 meetings.
2. Jean Roland Boutanive (Drug Squad) was found guilty under the rule 160 (A) e of Rules Of Racing. He was suspended for 18 meetings.
3. Reehaze Hoolash (Infinite Destiny) was found guilty under the rule 160 (A) a of Rules Of Racing. He was suspended for 14 meetings.
4. Swapneel Rama (Port Albert) was found was found guilty under the rule 160 (A) a of Rules Of Racing and was suspended for 14 meetings.
5. Mayeven Chinapiel (The Sneaker) pleaded guilty under the rule 160 (A) a of Rules Of Racing and was suspended for 12 meetings.
6. Dinesh Sooful (Surprising Dream) was found guilty for not riding his horse to the satisfaction of Racing Stewards and was suspended for two meetings. He will also have to pay a fine of Rs 25 000. Furthermore, he was warned for disrespectful behaviour during the enquiry.
The following is the definition of the particular Rules of Racing under which they have been sanctioned. Rules Of Racing 160 a (a): take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure that, throughout the race, his horse is given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field. Rules Of Racing 160 a (e): not ride in a slack, careless, improper, incompetent, foul or reckless manner.
The result of Saturday’s first race, the Jean Halbwachs Cup run over 1400m:
| 1 | 4 | ZIP IT | H. Maigrot | B. Bhaugeerothee |
| 2 | 6 | CIRAC | R. Gujadhur | N. Juglall |
| 3 | 7 | THE SNEAKER | R. Maingard | M. Chinapiel |
| 4 | 3 | DRUG SQUAD | P. Foo Kune | R. Boutanive |
| 5 | 10 | PORT ALBERT | C. Ramdin | S. Rama |
| 6 | 2 | SURPRISING DREAM | M. Ramdin | B. Sooful |
| 7 | 1 | MANTA RIDGE | A. Perdrau | N. Teeha |
| 8 | 5 | BALLITO BOY | S. Henry | S. Bussunt |
| 9 | 9 | INFINITE DESTINY | Gujadhur | R. Hoolash |
| 10 | 8 | FRASER | P. Merven | N. Marday |
