The 2009 Mauritius horse racing season commences tomorrow with a bumper eight race programme at the Champ de Mars racetrack in the capital city of Port Louis.

The 2009 Mauritius horse racing season commences tomorrow with a bumper eight race programme at the Champ de Mars racetrack in the capital city of Port Louis.

Totalisator betting by South African enthusiasts on the Indian Ocean island's highly competitive horse racing has grown exponentially over the past few years. The popularity of the fare on offer can be largely ascribed to the participation of many of our former racehorses as well as a host of our talented riders who have carried the South African flag with pride in recent times.

This year Sherman Brown, who returns to defend his 2008 Mauritian champion jockey title, as well as Glen Hatt and Guillermo Figueroa, will entertain the locals.

The Mauritian horse population was also recently boosted by the arrival of top South African Graded Race performers like Pick Six, Galant Gagnant, Northern Frontier and Profit Report, among others.

Gold Circle Racing director Graeme Hawkins said that Mauritian horse racing had captured the imagination of our racing public as it offered plenty of excitement and was well-timed, with its Saturday morning start, to complement the bouquet of South African horse racing which flowed from about midday.

"The presence of many familiar equine and jockey names with which our punters identify, as well as the unique nature of the Champ de Mars circuit and a fascinating visual spectacle with many tight finishes, means that Mauritian racing offers racing enthusiasts a unique package," he said.

Tomorrow's season opener starts at 10h45 with the Place Accumulator kicking off in race 2 at 11h15, the Pick 6 in race 3 at 11h50 and the Jackpot in race 4 at 12h25.

The Le Mauricien Centenary Souvenir Trophy is the feature event of the day.