Horse Racing Division Dismantled, Major Changes Ahead

The Horse Racing Division (HRD) has officially been dismantled amidst ongoing speculation about its future. Krishnakantsingh Auchoybur, the head of the HRD, and Riyaz Khan, the chief stipendiary steward, have both resigned, while their colleagues Sanjeev Thakan and Subramaniyam Mahendher chose to remain until the very end.

The completion of this restructuring should come as no surprise; rumors of changes at the HRD have been circulating on social media and in print for some time.

On Thursday January 23, HRD commissioners received a letter notifying them of their imminent departure.

Reports have suggested that the HRD will be completely dismantled to establish a new entity that operates independently from the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), in line with recommendations from the Parry Report.

In an afternoon announcement, the GRA declared that, effective January 14, 2025, all functions of the HRD would be transferred to it, under articles 15(A)(1) and 15(A)(2) of the Gambling Act of 2007.

Consequently, the HRD office in Port-Louis has closed, and stakeholders must now address all horse racing inquiries to the GRA.

This restructuring aims to restore the industry’s image, review existing frameworks, and rebuild public trust.

Typically, changes in government lead to shifts within regulatory services, and the GRA is no exception, with Veeshal Chumroo recently appointed as the new president and Chayan Ringadoo taking on the role of CEO.

The HRD is now undergoing its own significant restructuring.

Riyaz Khan, the former chief stipendiary steward, had opted to step down as early as November of last year.

However, his Indian colleagues, Mahendher and Thakan, chose to fulfill their duties until the very end and received their termination letters yesterday, alongside a notice period of 15 working days.

Ally Mohedeen, the former editor of the specialized magazine L’Express Turf, and Jean Hughes Olivier, the communications head at the HRD and former head of the horse racing section at Le Défi, were given 30-day notices.

Notably, no contractors within the HRD will be laid off with immediate effect.

As for the future of the HRD, some government members believe it would be better to create a new authority independent of the GRA.

This recommendation is aligning with the Parry Report commissioned during Navin Ramgoolam’s administration.

While the timeline for this transition has yet to be finalized, it is expected to represent a definitive break from the previous regime.

Regarding staffing in the new entity, there is potential for the transfer of some non-contractual HRD employees, while new appointments will be necessary for the board of commissioners.

The Express has previously mentioned interest from a former chief stipendiary steward under the Mauritius Turf Club to join this upcoming body.

Additionally, foreign experts, particularly from Australia, may be brought in to enhance local expertise.

Source: l’Express