Editing Horse racing (section)

====Mauritius====
[[File:Maiden Cup 2006, Champ de Mars Racecourse, Port Louis, Mauritius - 20060910.jpg|thumb|right|Maiden Cup 2006 - To The Line, winner of the race]]

On 25 June 1812, the [[Champ de Mars Racecourse]] was inaugurated by The [[Mauritius Turf Club]] which was founded earlier in the same year by Colonel [[Edward A. Draper]]. The Champ de Mars is situated on a prestigious avenue in [[Port Louis]], the capital city and is the oldest racecourse in the [[southern hemisphere]]. The Mauritius Turf Club is the second oldest active turf club in the world.

Undeniably, racing is one of the most popular sports in [[Mauritius]] now attracting regular crowds of 20,000 people or more to the only racecourse of the island.

A high level of professionalism has been attained in the organization of races over the last decades preserving the unique electrifying ambiance prevailing on race days at the Champ de Mars.

Members of the [[British royal family]], such as [[Queen Elizabeth II]], [[Princess Margaret]] or [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]] have attended or patronized races at the Champ de Mars numerous times.

Champ de Mars has four classic events a year such as the Duchess of York Cup, the Barbé Cup, the Maiden Cup, and the Duke of York Cup.

Most of the horses are imported from South Africa but some are also acquired from Australia, the United Kingdom and France.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/2988827.stm |title=BBC News |date=2013-04-02 |access-date=2013-10-01 |archive-date=2011-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728065224/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/2988827.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elegantdestinations.com/mauritius.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608235533/http://www.elegantdestinations.com/mauritius.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-08 |title=Mauritius Villas and Hotels |publisher=Elegantdestinations.com |access-date=2013-10-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maurinet.com/racing.html |title=Mauritius Island Online |publisher=Maurinet.com |access-date=2013-10-01 |archive-date=2013-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006050031/http://www.maurinet.com/racing.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.mauritiusonline.info/horse-racing/the-racing-industry-history The Mauritius Turf Club] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729011552/http://www.mauritiusonline.info/horse-racing/the-racing-industry-history |date=2014-07-29 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.otayo.com/mtc.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916075051/http://www.otayo.com/mtc.htm|url-status=dead|title=Billetterie – Otayo Maurice|archivedate=September 16, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asianracing.org/members/manr.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213152856/http://www.asianracing.org/members/manr.html|url-status=dead|title=Asianracing.org Asian Racing Federation|archivedate=December 13, 2007}}</ref><ref>[[Champ de Mars Racecourse]]</ref><ref>[http://www.users.bigpond.com/clancy/trivia.htm#The%20Mauritius%20Turf%20Club Bigpond.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220133746/http://www.users.bigpond.com/clancy/trivia.htm |date=2008-02-20 }}</ref>