The Crown Lodge

Champ de Mars is one of the oldest racecourses in the world. It became operational on 25 June 1812 with the support of the then governor of the island, Sir Robert Farquhar. He introduced horse racing in Mauritius to win the esteem and the collaboration of the French population. Now the racecourse is managed by the Mauritius Turf Club.

Horse Racing constitutes one of the most popular sports in Mauritius. It attracts more than 20 000 persons at Champ de Mars every week. Instead of the more common races, the four classics are preferred: the Duchess of York Cup, the Barbé Cup, the Duke of York Cup and especially the Maiden Cup, which takes place exceptionally on a Sunday (and not a Saturday) in September. This last event is the most popular. The horses are specially prepared for this one and run two laps each time, a distance of 2,400 metres. On this day, the lawn is full and the crowd can reach over 100,000 spectators.

The Crown Lodge is a hotel attached to the racecourse. Jacques Ritter, a former rider, owns Crown Lodge. It was launched in May 2002. It is a private steward suite converted to allow tourists from around the world to discover, in optimum conditions of comfort and safety, the electric atmosphere of horse racing in Mauritius. The Lodge is located on the VIP balcony, next door to the office of the president of the Mauritius Turf Club. It offers a magnificent view on the finish line and the paddock. A variety of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and local snacks are offered throughout the day. You will also have the opportunity to meet the trainers and horse owners.