Hours after the local press reported that the liquidator of Merano Maia Spa had made his choice between the only two offers submitted, the latest news is that there is now a new, third offer!

Merano Maia Spa is the company that one year ago signed a contract with the Town of Merano to rent the racecourse until 2020 and organize the races there. In November 2012, the company officially announced that the general assembly of its shareholders (including Merano-based MIC Srl and the Pisa-San Rossore racing association) had voted against a stock increase; and that they were at risk of default and would not be able to function and to organize races in 2013.

The negotiations with prospective successors obviously centred on how much they would offer to the Town for the yearly rental of the racecourse, which it owns. EUR 30,000 was offered by trainer P. Favero, and EUR 40,000 (plus the value of some dubious credits) by the Pisa-Rome racing associations.

The final decision rests, of course, on the owner. And yet, the Town's approval was regarded as a mere technicality, and was taken for granted. Trainer Paolo Favero, a native of Merano and by far the main user of the Maia stables, had (informally) submitted his offer as early as in May 2012; and it was debated for months before ultimately being rejected in November. The Pisa racing association was a driving force in the now wound-up Merano Maia Spa. The Pisa racing association is also the driving force in the new company whose offer outbid Favero.

Pisa-San Rossore's weight in the Merano Maia Spa was counterbalanced by the local Mic Srl company (of which Merano Maia President Chenot is a shareholder). However, the Pisa and Rome racing associations, brought together in the new Merano association, would completely upset and unbalance the present leadership.     

So, what is going on?  Who is dissatisfied with this prospect, and why? 

The emergence at such a late stage of a 'local' offer is a veritable 'coup de théâtre'. Did it originate spontaneously, or at the instigation of the Town administration?

It rather surprised me a year ago to observe how (apparently) easily the major and ambitious racing association from Toscany  (Pisa-San Rossore Alfea Spa) was given access to Merano Maia Spa, and thus to the 'decision room' of racing in Merano.

Now, it may be that one non-local investor and decision-maker is all right, in the eyes of the Merano administrators, but that two (Pisa and Rome) are regarded as too many ... 

Who stands behind the new offer? My local informants were able to suggest just one name - that of Mario Pirone. He is a co-owner of Vana-trained Lutin des Bordes, surely a turf enthusiast and a nice fellow. Another co-owner of the horse is former jumps jockey Ferdi Gang, whose wife Verena, née Fuchs, is a native of Merano. I would not be surprised to find out that the Gangs are also involved. 

Clearly, there is the matter of finding EUR 30,000 - 40,000 to match the two previous offers. This is the price of a medium-class car, and would not be a difficult sum to raise from among a group of friends and horseracing people.

I know for sure that a number of people in Merano, if invited, would be ready to subscribe a share in the region of EUR 2,000 - 3,000 each, and would consider it a reasonable price to pay for the satisfaction of a seat in the general assembly of 'their' racing association.

(contributed by Giancarlo Fochesato)