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‘Since 2020, the year the Association was recognised, we have regained our dignity. Our mistake was to be represented for years by someone who did not protect us. On the other hand, our work is so tiring and demanding that it does not allow us to claim our rights personally’.
President of the CIGA Association for 4 years, an acronym that unites the professional figure of trainer and driver, Mario Minopoli jr. is the ideal representative of the category. He has been in the horseracing world for over thirty years, belonging to a historic family of breeders, owners, trainers and drivers.
Mario, how many horses do you have in your stable?
Sixty at the moment. Compared to three years ago, I’ve halved them. Back then it was 140 horses. The way things are going in horse racing, I’d like to slim it down again. Unfortunately there is no return. First of all I am an entrepreneur and the accounts don’t add up anymore. To maintain the structure, you have to have centre horses, at least b-category horses that go for at least 15,000 euro a year. The horse, even if it is stronger than 4-5 years ago, earns less. We have a high number of horses and the pie is always smaller to divide.
Why have we reached this point?
It’s a crisis that has been going on since 2012. As a category we have our faults. We got mismanaged and it got out of hand. Now we have a spokesman for the committee, lawyer Giovanni Sibilio, who acts as our interface with the Ministry.
How is it going with the ministry?
We have started a dialogue. I have confidence in the Director General who is working hard for this sector. However, he has to deal with politics. We have obviously made demands. Get the payments in order, work on transparency and legality. We need to distribute the prize money better. The public has moved away from our world, but above all there are no longer any big owners. And there are very few ‘good’ ones left….
Why did you emphasise ‘respectable’?
Because it is also important for us to deal with serious and recommendable people.
How many members are you?
About one hundred. It is the largest trotting association.
In the unfortunate event that horse racing does not regain credibility, will you do like Marcello Vecchione who left for Sweden?
It’s an adventure, the one abroad, that I was the first among equestrians to face. I chose France in 2010. That’s why the late Salvio Cervone gave me the nickname Francesino. Even now, in the months when we don’t get paid, I send my students to France to make ends meet. There they pay the premiums almost immediately. But I will fight for my city and my country. I will stay here.
Mario, as the head of a drivers’ association, what can you tell me about the recent incident involving a colleague from Campania like you?
I was expecting this question, and I will answer it sincerely. I can tell you, from personal experience, that before judging one must be thoroughly investigated. Silence before condemning a person and pillorying them. Then you also throw in social media to widen the scourge. The bad habit of stigmatising a person without justice having run its course must be removed in Italy. If I happen to find the judge of the race I will get an explanation. Speaking of France, none of this is happening.
The Prix D’Amerique in Paris, a world trotting event, is coming up. What do the French have more than us?
Everything. French horseracing manages itself and invests daily.
And what would you like to do to relaunch Italian horse racing?
To be represented by people who do their work to achieve a common goal and not looking after their own hives. Experts in the sector. Lots of work, commitment, and professionals who are up to the job. We must go back to the old UNIRE acronym. We must not weaken, but increase. And then we must no longer beg from the State.
