A renewed crisis has emerged at Merano racecourse in northern Italy. Merano Maia Spa, the association that has been organizing events at the racecourse, has been dissolved, and all members of the staff of the association have received formal letters terminating their employment.

A new company will now sign an agreement with the local town council, which represents the owners of the racecourse, and will take on responsibility for managing the racecourse and organizing the racedays in 2013.

This situation has been anticipated by those in the know, and it is expected that the new management association will re-employ most of the present racecourse staff.

There is a strong rumour that a group of investors headed by the predominant Italian steeplechase trainer Paolo Favero will make the successful offer. Paolo Favero is universally acknowledged as a professional and as a racing man.

It is generally recognized that it was a mistake to appoint Merano Maia Spa to organize events and the racecourse, and that it was a mistake for this association to want to take on responsibility for running a racecourse.

Czech trainers will be watching the situation anxiously, as several of them win much more prizemoney in Italy than in the Czech Republic, and any disruption or insolvency of steeplechasing at Merano would be a serious matter for them. Leading Czech steeplechase jockeys, too, are an integral part of racing at Merano, and have considerable interest in the solvency of Italian racing.

In addition, Merano racecourse is one of the finest and most beautiful racecourses in the world. Any threat to steeplechasing there is a threat to steeplechasing  as an international sport.    

The financial crisis in Italian racing, not least in steeplechasing, is probably a separate issue from the management crisis at Merano racecourse. However, this combination of crises is a serious matter. Dostihovy Svet hopes to be able to report in greater depth at a later date.