▁Race course ▁() ▁is ▁a ▁thorough bre d ▁horse ▁race ▁track ▁in ▁Port ▁Louis , ▁Maur it ius . ▁The ▁Race course ▁was ▁inaugur ated ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁June ▁ 1 8 1 2 , ▁by ▁The ▁Maur it ius ▁Tur f ▁Club ▁( M TC ) ▁which ▁was ▁founded ▁earlier ▁in ▁the ▁same ▁year ▁by ▁Edward ▁Al ured ▁Dra per , ▁who ▁served ▁in ▁different ▁capac ities , ▁namely ▁as ▁Chief ▁of ▁Police , ▁Col onial ▁Secretary , ▁Collect or ▁of ▁Custom s , ▁Civil ▁engineer , ▁Reg istr ar ▁of ▁S la ves , ▁Mag istr ate ▁and ▁Col onial ▁Tre as urer . The ▁Maur it ius ▁Tur f ▁Club ▁is ▁the ▁oldest ▁horse - rac ing ▁club ▁in ▁the ▁Southern ▁Hem is phere ▁and ▁the ▁second ▁oldest ▁in ▁the ▁world . ▁The ▁race ▁track ▁follows ▁a ▁very ▁select ive ▁right ▁hand ▁o val ▁path ▁and ▁is ▁relatively ▁small ▁in ▁size , ▁with ▁a ▁circum ference ▁of ▁ 1 , 2 9 8 ▁meters ▁( 4 , 2 5 8 . 5   ft ) ▁and ▁width ▁between ▁ 1 2 ▁and ▁ 1 4 ▁meters ▁( 3 9 ▁and ▁ 4 6 ▁feet ). ▁The ▁home - stra ight ▁extends ▁u ph ill ▁and ▁is ▁ 2 2 5 ▁meters ▁( 7 3 8   ft ) ▁long . ▁ ▁When ▁Maur it ius ▁gained ▁independence ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁March ▁ 1 9 6 8 , ▁the ▁event ▁including ▁the ▁flag ▁ho isting ▁ceremony ▁was ▁held ▁here