For five years at the helm of the gentlemen’s category, taking over from Cesare Meli after his death to pick up a very heavy inheritance, President Mauro Biasuzzi is an entrepreneur with a great family tradition of horse owners, winner among others of three Federnats, two World Championships and one European Championship.
Mr. Mauro Biasuzzi: what contribution can come from the category you represent to relaunch horse racing?
FEDERNAT, which oversees all the sporting activities of gentlemen drivers, in planning, together with the Ministry, horse racing events with the aim of promoting the passion for horses inside and outside the environment.
We already organise races for charitable purposes, aimed at social welfare by giving contributions to nationally recognised associations, and we think this is useful to relaunch the image of horse racing.
And what is the real task of a gentleman?
The task of a gentleman is to be a promoter of horseracing. Before being such, the gentleman is an owner, a professional, an entrepreneur, an executive who has colleagues to whom he can pass on his passion for this wonderful animal. This attitude can give rise to new ‘followers’ who can become potential owners over time. The gentleman ultimately buys older horses, precisely so that he can drive them, thus feeding and unlocking the market for 4-year-olds and over. Quality racing for owned horses should be organised to incentivise these amateurs to invest more and more.
Yet there are ‘pure’ gentlemen who drive a lot and often with horses that are not their own.
Does this go against your statutes?
Yes, it does. There are people who do not reflect our ideals. They get horses provisionally registered to participate in specific events, or they drive other people’s horses as fictitious owners, or even worse, they act as trainers without having the necessary qualifications. I am fighting for the principles that constitute our Association to be respected. You can only race with horses you own.
Will it succeed?
I hope so (smiles).
Speaking of rotten apples: how do you judge the case at the Taranto Hippodrome?
It was a despicable episode that had nothing to do with the true spirit of the gentleman. As Federnat President, there is nothing I can do. Those who can intervene are the Ministry and the president of the club to which the gentleman belongs
and in this circumstance they have both acted promptly. The President of the stewards has already given a double suspension to the gentleman accused of beating the horse. But the investigation is going on because nothing should be left to chance. In addition to the videos, I know that the Ministry will listen again to the farrier who was a witness to the incident, and in the event the penalties will be stiffened and adopted by Federnat.
Ones and honours of representing the top of this category?
Honours: representing over four hundred owners, an important segment of the horse industry. Burdens: sometimes getting in the way when there are episodes that tarnish our image.
Your family has been close to horse breeding for two generations. A faith
firmly established faith. How many horses do you own?
Unfortunately I don’t have any children so there won’t be a third generation. However, I currently have fifty mares, thirty foals and forty racehorses in my stable. I also had three hundred in the past. I own one hundred and eighty hectares of land completely dedicated to this wonderful animal.
Have you presented any projects at the table?
I make a premise: in my opinion we should publicise the love and fascination of horses more than betting, even though I recognise that horse racing is too cumbersome and ‘old’ in Italy.
We have made comments on the racing regulations that point to the tightening of penalties. We would like an annual review of licences precisely to intervene in those cases of those who do not respect our ideals. We also aim for an annual programme of new courses so that new enthusiasts can take to the track as soon as possible.
And in which direction is horseracing going?
I personally believe that we are in a pre-default phase in which we need to intervene drastically and with strong and unpopular measures in all sectors. I have faith in the new Directorate General for Horse Racing, even though it has only recently taken office in this environment. If it had not been for Ing. Chiodi and his staff, in whom I have great confidence,
I would have already thought of leaving horse racing. I also trust that Undersecretary La Pietra, another ‘Grand Prix Horse,’ is the right hammer to plant Chiodi in the right places.
