The 4th edition of the Grand Prix d'Afrique opened Thursday at Bouskoura's Cité du Cheval, after three editions in Marrakech. Organized by SOREC and ALA, the three-day event features exhibitions, seminars on African lotteries, and a final race day at the Casa-Anfa Racecourse. For the first time, Casablanca is hosting the Grand Prix d'Afrique, an event that brings together African horse racing and lotteries. After its first three editions in Marrakech, the event has now moved to the economic capital, where the fourth edition opened Thursday at Bouskoura's Cité du Cheval. The three-day event, spanning September 11 to 13, is organized by Morocco's Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Horse (SOREC) and the African Lotteries Association (ALA). The opening day was marked by guided visits of an exhibition space led by SOREC General Director Omar Skalli, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests Ahmed El Bouari, and ALA President Dramane Coulibaly. Speaking at the event, Skalli declared: «The Grand Prix d'Afrique is growing into a vital event for stakeholders in African horse racing and lotteries. By holding it in Casablanca for the first time, the 2025 edition shows our commitment to expanding the event's reach and building stronger connections among all the delegations». He also stressed that this 4th edition is an opportunity to «introduce the participants, our African partners, and our technical partners to this beautiful site, Bouskoura's Cité du Cheval». «It is an infrastructure built to the highest standards, dedicated to the horse and to equestrian sport», he said proudly, referring to the 87-hectare estate, which boasts 400 modern stables, 4.4 km of training tracks, and grooms' accommodations. In the same spirit, ALA President Dramane Coulibaly added: «The Grand Prix d'Afrique illustrates the vitality of the partnership between ALA and SOREC and confirms Morocco's unifying role on the continent. This edition reflects our shared ambition to support innovation and the transformation of African lotteries to deliver a modern and responsible experience». Innovation and AI in the future of African lotteries Alongside the exhibitions, the second day of the Grand Prix d'Afrique also promises a rich program of exchanges for delegations representing 13 countries. On Friday, September 12, the focus shifts to professional dialogue, again at the Cité du Cheval, with a full day of seminars. Held under the theme «African Lotteries: New distribution challenges for a better customer experience», the seminars will explore how African lotteries can improve the way they reach customers, looking at both physical networks and digital tools. The sessions will also highlight the role of artificial intelligence in making distribution more efficient, responsible, and adapted to Africa's specific challenges. These themes will be discussed in three sessions, allowing technical partners and industry experts to debate the future of the sector and share expertise. The event will conclude in style on Saturday, September 13, with the Grand Prix d'Afrique race at the Casa-Anfa Racecourse. Eight prestigious prizes will be contested, including the Prize «SOREC», the Prize «PMU», the Prize of African Fraternity, and the Grand Prix d'Afrique itself.
