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The Mauritius Gambling Regulatory Authority has approved an increase to 37 meetings for the Mauritius Turf Club's 2016 racing season amid a raft of proposed operational improvements.

The MTC wil stage two extra meetings including the International Weekend at the beginning of December.

MTC president Jeenarain Soobagrah said that this decision shows authorities are satisfied with the work accomplished by the club in 2015.

'We are moving in the right direction. Last year, we took a certain number of decisions to put horse racing back on the right track,” he said.

“The MTC has taken its responsibilities and I think that 37 meetings, two more than last year, is an indication that we have convinced the authorities of our sincerity and engagement. I thank the GRA as with 37 meetings we still have room to manoeuvre."

The 2016 racing calendar will be made official after approval from the Mauritius police force.

The season will not start until March 26, a week later than usual start date.

Hong Kong Jockey Club steward and secretary of the HKJC Licensing Committee Steve Railton has submitted a list of recommendations to the MTC following his extended visit to examine operating procedures last October.

Railton conducted an evaluation of the organisation of racing at Champ de Mars and has submitted a report containing 15 recommendations to the MTC

The MTC has announced that it will adopt the following procedures and recommendations:-

1: Make representations to the Gambling Regulatory Authority to provide the Racing Stewards with access to a greater level of betting intelligence prior to and during a race meeting in order to enhance their scrutiny of the integrity of races.

2: Arrange for Stipendiary Stewards to obtain experience with overseas racing jurisdictions through formal attachments in order to gain further exposure to racing regulation and to observe practices which can be implemented for the benefit of racing in Mauritius.

3: Ensure that all declared runners presented for pre-race blood samples should be formally identified to ensure that a sample is being collected from the correct horse.

4: Consider a review of the general practice of the intra-articular injection of joints specifically having regard to the suitability of the current deadline for treatment as well as the frequency of this form of veterinary treatment.

5: Consider, within any budgetary constraints, increasing the level of testing for the presence of banned substances in jockeys both at track work and during race meetings.

6: Consider appointing a properly constituted Licensing Sub-Committee to deal with all licensing responsibilities on behalf of the Board of

Administrators, as set out in the Rules of Racing.

7: Either itself or through a properly constituted Licensing Sub-Committee, determine what shall be the optimum number of jockeys to be licensed to ride in Mauritius during any given racing season.

8: Ensure that jockeys be paid their earnings derived from riding fees and winning percentages (less any deductions such as fines) at the end of each calendar month rather than at the conclusion of the relevant racing season.

9: Undertake a review of the current penalty structure in respect of certain riding offences with a reliance on riding suspensions rather than fines. Included in this new penalty structure should be a means of providing due recognition to jockeys who possess a good disciplinary record.

10: Pursue the matters subject to directions issued by the Gambling Regulatory Authority in order to remove the severe impositions placed upon jockeys.

11: Discontinue the current demerit point system which should be replaced by the provision for a licensee to be referred to the Licensing Sub-Committee when such licensed person’s disciplinary record is of sufficient concern to MTC Management.

12: Undertake a thorough analysis of the benefits to the local racing industry of introducing Club Retained Jockeys onto the jockeys’ roster.

13: Introduce a Rule of Racing detailing the international standards to which helmets and safety vests must conform or, in the alternative, provide a list of Club approved helmets and safety vests to all jockeys

14: Amend Rule of Racing 105 (1) (b) to remove the words “body protector” from race equipment which shall be excluded at scale by a jockey.

15: Investigate the desirability of introducing a new 950 metres starting position.