Horseracing and Betting: Horseracing in Mauritius

When I was a child my father used to take us to the races in Port Louis once a year. Everyone could go at that time. Entrance was free (and still is) except for the balconies. It was an occasion for whole families to go out and have some fun admiring horses and eating snacks and candyfloss. It was also an opportunity for children to be offered cheap wooden toys (which were sold only at the races) by their fathers.
In those times betting existed but it was for fun. No one made a living from races except those involved directly in the races: owners, jockeys, trainers, bookmakers, etc. No professional gamblers or gambling fixers.

Nowadays it is very different. Horseracing, even in a small country like Mauritius (population 1.2 million) is very big business. Fortunes are made at the races, by those who are already rich, of course. Needless to say, many things happen behind doors. Needless to say, the racetrack is also a hub for money laundering.

Many businessmen and professionals (lawyers, architects, notaries, etc.) invest and gamble in the races. Every now and then, we hear that a race has been fixed, that there is an enquiry by the Gambling squad, but a few months later it's all forgotten.

So the poor get poorer. We have about 32 race days every year, and on each race day tens of thousands gamble just to throw away their money for a one-minute thrill. Owners, bookmakers, jockeys race fixers make their day on every race day. Same for the Tote company which has opened branches in many towns and villages to help the poor to get poorer.

The lucky ones on the balconies

The poor ones queuing in the field in front of bookmaker's' booths

The people's Tote: gamble with closed eyes

Leaving the starting block

Near the finish line

Gamblers in front of bookmaker's building in a town

Many poor (and not so poor) people have lost everything because of gambling. I have a personal friend who was a successful businessman and who lost his house and family after the Champ de Mars. Unlike other countries (New Zealand, for example) where the authorities and even the owners of gambling companies warn people to be careful about betting, nothing is being done in Mauritius. On the contrary, the situation is getting worse and worse. Since 2 years, we have the lotto with a draw every Saturday. It is a real folly. A millionaire is born every once or twice a month (the jackpot is only paid if someone has played all 6 numbers) but the thousands others are just throwing away money every week whereas the promoters are making a fortune. It is true that the lotto company has to contribute to the Lotto Fund, a public charity, but up to now it is not clear how the money is being used.

Gambling and betting destroy lives much more than they are making fortunes. The old cycle of poverty and wealth rolls on.

Small pagoda

Mountain temple

The old citadel

Port Louis cathedral

Colonial house

This lens was blessed by Squid Angels darciefrench on 06/11/2011 and sukkran on 06/23/2011. Thank you, Darcie and sukkran.