Horse Racing exist in Mauritius since 1812 when the
Mauritius Turf Club has been created. Going to the Champs de
Mars and assist to the horse racing is one of the main
hobbies of Mauritian people. It is like a tradition here in
the country to assist to the horse racing. Mostly held on
Saturdays almost every week you will be able to see at the
Champs de Mars different social classes. Lot of Mauritian go
and bet on horses hoping to win some money as life is
sometimes not easy in Mauritius.
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The Champs de Mars is located in the capital city of
Mauritius, Port Louis, in a well known avenue. The track of
the Champs de Mars was first built in 1812 and since there
has been lot of improvements.
The first racecourse was held in June 1812 shortly after the
foundation of the Mauritius Turf Club. The Turf Club of
Mauritius is known to be the oldest horse racing club of the
southern hemisphere and one of the oldest in the world.
In 1904 The Mauritius Jockey Club was founded by George
Rougier Lagane, Raoul Gufflet and Willy Dawson. The oldest
stable of the country is Gujadhur stable.
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Usually there is around sixty horses participating to the
racing with about nine horses per race. During the last
years there have been twenty three races held with seven
races per meeting.
The horse racing is usually held between the month of April
and November and sometimes starting December.
The Champs de mars is part of the history of Mauritius and
gambling is a habit in the Mauritian culture.
