This afternoon’s racing programme at the Marsa Racetrack is dominated by the championships open to French horses currently racing in Malta and sponsored by the French Trotting Association (SECF).

Over the past years, these championships have become one of the highlights of the local racing calendar.

Held twice yearly, the SECF offer an incentive to local owners who purchase and train French horses.

The qualification races for these finals started on May 16. Today, five finals are on the card with the most important being that for Premier Class horses – the Prix de Vincennes.

This final is scheduled to start at 5.35pm with the racetrack-goers expecting a thrilling and fast race. Their eyes will also be on the stopwatch as the bonus for a record-breaking time is still in play and now amounts to €2,900.

Today’s programme, starting at 2.30pm, consists of eight races, all over the 2,140m distance.

This will also be the last meeting on Sunday before the summer break.

The first final will be for the Copper Class at 3.35pm. The Bronze final gets under way at 4.05pm, Silver at 4.35pm and Gold at 5.05pm.

The total prize money for the five finals is €11,440 with the owners of the winning and top-placed horses also receiving artistic trophies which have been commissioned for the occasion.

During today’s programme, there will also be the final for student drivers who attended the Malta Racing Club Horse Racing Academy this season.

The final will be a Shetland trotting race over 700 metres.

Two qualifying races were held last weekend to determine the six finalists who will be vying for the honours this afternoon.