The Malta Racing Club is once again organising the Malta Leg of the 2011 Horse Racing Union Championship today.

The two legs, namely the second leg reserved for Flat Racing horses and the first leg of the trotting championship, will be part of an eight race meeting, made up of six trotting races, one flat race and a traditional pony race.

The first race will start at 2pm. The event also includes various other activities, traditional carts parade and various other activities for all to enjoy.

At a press conference Dr Matthew Brincat, chairman of the Malta Racing Club, said that “this is an annual event not just for the horse enthusiasts, who follow horse racing on a regular basis, but it is also an important occasion for the Maltese to support the Maltese jockey Eric Zammit and the Maltese driver Julian Farrugia.”

Zammit is an experienced jockey, while Farrugia is one of the top drivers on the island. Both represented Malta outside our shores on various occasions registering wins outside our shores.

The 12 countries participating at this year’s event are France, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Tunisia and the Ukraine.

The seventh race is the ‘Johnny Walker Cup’, and will feature six participating countries. It is also the second leg of the Mediterranean Jockeys Championship 2010.

The fourth race will be part of the Trotting Driver Championship. It is the first leg of the Mediterranean Trotting Championship 2011.

Dr Brincat welcomed all the delegates and jockeys/drivers that will be participating in the Malta leg. He also said that “he is very pleased that the Malta Racing Club is once again organising such a prestigious event in the annual racing calendar of the Mediterranean Horse Racing Union.” Dr Brincat also pledged the club’s future commitment in organising such events and also to participate during the coming legs.

He added: “Such international tournaments are an opportunity for Maltese jockeys/drivers to broaden their experience abroad, and for the Malta Racing Club to continue strengthen the already excellent relationships with all other member countries.”