Masaf allocates up to €1.7m for Italian racecourse upgrades

Italy's Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry has made up to €1,708,048 available to fund upgrades and adaptation work at Italian racecourses. The funding comes from a decree of the Directorate General for Horse Racing on the allocation of resources for 2026. The grant covers 80% of eligible costs and is paid as a capital contribution.

Applications are due by noon on the twentieth day after the decree appears on the Ministry's website, with 2 November given as the publication date. Under the decree, requests must be transmitted by certified email.

The funds are intended for racing companies that own or manage racecourses and are recognised by the Ministry, and for public bodies named in the decree. The funding covers two main areas: improving and upgrading facilities and technology infrastructure, and works to ensure races can be run in line with safety rules for personnel and horses. Projects to improve how the public and operators experience racing events through more advanced technology and standards are also eligible.

The split of funds between individual racecourses follows criteria set by ministerial decrees of 25 March 2025 and 5 June 2026. Each racecourse may prepare one project proposal for each discipline it runs, trotting and flat racing, within the maximum amounts assigned to that venue. Applications must include a technical and economic feasibility project, a schedule of works and a breakdown of costs. A price-adequacy declaration signed by a qualified technician is also required.

The applications will be reviewed by a commission to be named in a later decree of the director general for horse racing. Files will be assessed in chronological order of arrival. Where formal shortcomings can be remedied, applicants may be given up to ten days to supply the documents requested.

The grant will normally be paid as a final balance. Racing companies may request an advance of up to 20% of the eligible amount by providing a guarantee equal to 110% of the sum requested. The decree states that eligible expenses cannot receive double public funding. Subsidised assets must stay in their intended use for the depreciation period, set at five years, or three years for assets with high technical obsolescence.

Actual award and payment of the grants depends on cash availability in the relevant budget chapter. The decree states that any full or partial failure by the State Accounting Office to allocate the funds would prevent spending commitments and payment of the sums.