THE INSPECTION TO EVALUATE THE RACECOURSES QUALITY HAVE STARTED

As established by the relative ministerial decrees, inspections have begun in the racecourses to evaluate the ‘quality’ parameter that will then become part of the criteria for the classification of the facilities to be carried out at the end of 2025, a classification that will update the one published in December 2024. During the week, the commissions appointed by Masaf visited the San Rossore racecourse in Pisa and the Capannelle racecourse in Rome (for gallop racing). The work was carried out rigorously, even according to those involved. Then of course there are distinctions on the more operational part and on some evaluations’.
‘In my opinion it's good that the facilities are being evaluated,’ commented Emiliano Piccioni, Director of the San Rossore facility, ’but it's important that the Commissions are able to do a homogeneous, intelligent job and above all parameterise it with what may be the external factors. Let me give you an example. Our track, which is in good condition thanks to the last few days of sunshine, has undoubtedly just undergone over 40 days of racing in the winter season and it certainly can't be the same one that the commission would have found if they had come after two days of racing... In short, let's say that a bit of common sense will be needed when drawing up the minutes. I'm also a bit concerned about the passage that acknowledges the reports of the operators. Let me explain. Obviously, people always tend to report something that is wrong rather than something that is normal, not to mention something that is optimal, and for a training centre with 500 horsepower it is easy, as well as physiological, that there may be three or four dissatisfied people, while for example those who have a few dozen horsepower inside their facility will have an advantage in this sense.
Finally, I don't think it's right to blame the racing company for the possible absence of road signs within a 10 km radius of the racecourse. That wouldn't be our job, but that of the relevant institutions... All right then, but as with everything, there will certainly be something to report.’
Elio Pautasso, General Manager of Hippogroup Capannelle, also welcomed the visit of the Ministerial Commission. ‘We offered our full cooperation. I also think that the issue of road signs needs to be reviewed. Of course, in a facility like ours, which covers 180 hectares of land, it is easier to find some imperfections. However, once we have examined the reports, we will try to take action where necessary.’

It is worth remembering that the procedure for evaluating the quality of facilities, structures and services dedicated to racing, the public and training at racetracks - year 2025 - is based on the Decree of the Undersecretary of State prot. n. 644641 of 6 December 2024. The concept of quality is understood as customer satisfaction, in the sense of stakeholders. The criteria relating to quality, therefore, cannot be ‘normalised/relativised’ according to the size of the facility.

The object of evaluation is the tracks in their state and the maintenance of the elements necessary for the races (cages, auto-start, etc.), the quality of services for the public and for the owners (refreshment points, accesses, etc.) and the quality of the training facilities, as well as the boxes and rooms for veterinary and inspection staff; finally, there is an evaluation for ‘green’ facilities and services.

With regard to reports, the evaluation involves assigning a score based on the number of reports of irregularities received during a year of activity, distinguishing between two types of report: depending on whether or not they compromise the safety of operators and horses.

All the elements are evaluated with a score ranging from 1 to 9; at the end, the data obtained is entered into a mathematical spreadsheet using parametric tables that will give the overall evaluation value.

Click here to read the complete decree with attachments

In the next few days other inspections will be carried out strictly without prior notice, but always on race days.