Horse racing in Malta has a long tradition and is very much part of the islands; culture and heritage. Horse racing goes back to the 15th century. At that time races were held on Saqqajja Hill at Rabat. Fortunately, these races are still organised to this very day.

This centuries-old tradition is made up of bareback horse races which take place every year on 29June, the feast of St Peter and St Paul, and is one of the public holidays on the islands. This holiday is commonly known by the Maltese as L-Imnarja. Historically, these famous races were hugely promoted by the Knights of St John, especially by Grand Masters Fra' Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle (1531-1595) and Fra' Jean-Paul de Lascaris-Castellar (1560-1657). The knights’ support for these races was such that strict orders were issued that no one was permitted to interfere with them.

With the arrival of the British, the need was felt to have an appropriate racecourse for horse racing, and in 1868, the race course in Marsa was built. In those days, it was commonly held that the Marsa race course had one of the longest tracks in Europe. The first horse races in Marsa took place on 12 and 13 April 1869.

Today, horse racing still draws big number of racing enthusiasts practically every Sunday afternoon from mid-September till May. The two horse-racing disciplines mainly practised in Malta are flat racing and trot racing. The former is run over a level track at a prearranged distance. Such races test the speed, stamina and the jockey’s skill in figuring out when to control the horse or to give its head. The other form of horse racing which is greatly popular in Malta is trot racing. In this discipline horses usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky.

St John Paul II proclaimed St Francis of Assisi the patron saint of ecology in 1979. In his ‘Canticle of Brother Sun’, he praised “the Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!” for the creatures he lovingly created. Brother Horse is tacitly included in this long hymn of praise to God the Creator!

In Brother Horse St Francis saw a faithful companion to man’s lifelong struggles. Thanks to Brother Horse, the human person could work the land and construct astonishing buildings where he and she could live and organize his and her social life. St Francis loved and respected Brother Horse because in him he could behold God’s loving care for us, his beloved children. With St Francis I joyfully sing: “Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Horse, who unites us as one family to appreciate your loving presence in each and every one of us!”

The St Francis Cup final that was organized earlier this month for class Copper trotters on a short distance of 2,140 m conveyed St Francis’ message that Peace and Good is the streets and places of entrainment, including of course the Marsa Racetrack. Contemporary Maltese society needs Jesus Christ in order to be healed from the malady of relativism that is destroying its very soul. Peace of mind and heart are guaranteed if we are open to the truth, Jesus Christ!

While thanking the Malta Racing Club, horse owners and the thousands of enthusiasts that frequent the track every weekend to watch the horse races, let us thank the Lord and be thankful that He is visiting us at the racetrack. After all, did not Pope Francis tell us priests to go to the margins and fringes of society, where we do not feel comfortable, where people most need our presence and hear the message of the Gospel?

Thank you my dear brothers and sisters who attend horse races every weekend for helping me gradually become a Franciscan brother and priest. Thank you St Francis that you have become our beloved brother at the Marsa racetrack! Please pray for us and protect us to continue being united together in fraternal love and respect! Amen.

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

San Gwann