No stopping In Vitro Du Bourg

Horse racing followers again thronged the Marsa Racetrack yesterday to follow their favourite sport after a long, summer break.

The card of the 34th meeting of the season was made up of eight, all-trotting, events on the 2,140m distances.

Although the main race was the Premier Class, the programme also included three races from the ever-interesting Gold Division. The rest were from the Silver and Bronze categories.

Charles Camilleri was the meeting's best driver yesterday afternoon with two wins.

In Vitro Du Bourg, as always under the control of James Carabott, did it again.

The 11-year-old French trotter went into the lead a lap from the end. At the post, it was a clear 12 lengths ahead of second horse in Janville which was followed in third place by Hiosco De Davcar.

In Vitro Du Bourg covered the 2,140m distance in a remarkable average of 1'14.9'' per kilometre. It was also In Vitro Du Bourg's seventh win this year.

There was quite a duel between Maltese trotting newcomer Black Guy and the more quoted Fraekke Siem along the last 100m of the Gold 2 race. However, it was Black Guy, driven by Camilleri, which went on to cross the line first while Rex Daro came in third.

In the Gold 4 race, Glory Cowboyland, one of the favourites, led from start up to a few metres from the post where it was overtaken by eventual winner Widget, controlled by Michael Ellul.

Salvu Vella's Greatballs of Fire increased its pace considerably to go on and win the Gold 5 race some three lengths ahead of its nearest rival.

Noel Baldacchino's Korentin had to go all out to secure first place in the Silver 1 race. Andy Garcia, under the charge of Julian Farrugia, grabbed the lead midway through the final straight to clinch victory in Silver 5.

At one stage it looked as Hadiposte was going to win but its challenge fizzled out to finish second.

The next meeting at the Marsa Racecourse is scheduled for next Sunday, starting at 2 p.m.

Horse Owners, Drivers and Jockeys Association

The Malta Horse Owners, Drivers and Jockeys Association started to function again when a committee of eight members was recently elected.

Veteran driver Raymond Clifton obtained the highest number of votes from the 202 cast. The other elected members are: Claudio Drago, Peter Agius, Manwel Bonnici, Joseph Zerafa, Jason Vassallo, Ivan Borg and George Grech.

Yesterday's winners at Marsa

Race 1: Bronze 5, 2,140m - MGT As (B. Hili).

Race 2: Bronze 2, 2,140m - El Paso STR (C. Camilleri).

Race 3: Silver 5, 2,140m - Andy Garcia (J. Farrugia).

Race 4: Gold 4 - Widget (M. Ellul).

Race 5: Gold 2, 2,140m - Black Guy (C. Camilleri).

Race 6: Premier, 2,140m - In Vitro Du Bourg (J. Carabott).

Race 7: Gold 5, 2,140m - Greatballs of Fire (S. Vella).

Race 8: Silver 1, 2,140m - Korentin (N. Baldacchino).