Responsible Racing Journalism

THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  24 June 2009, Wednesday

Gran Copa de Manila

The Manila Jockey Club successfully staged the second Karera para sa Kalikasan races last weekend with the support of various sponsors who backed the eleven races on Saturday and twelve last Sunday.

Kudos are due to the event organizers who made sure that guaranteed or added prizes were given to the race participants.

Among the sponsors were Department of Energy and Natural Resources secretary Lito Atienza, the Philippine Racing Commission, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philex Mining Corporation, Natural Resources Development Corporation, councilor Che Borromeo, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, DENR assistant secretary Jayjay Yambao, the Philippine Chamber of Mines, Philippine Wood Producers Association, Luzmatin Inc., and Novawood Industries.

 Apart from Philracom, PSCO, and PAGCOR, the other agencies seem to be first time supporters of racing - let’s hope this won’t be the last.

Speaking of racing festivals at this time reminds me of the MJC’s Gran Copa de Manila that used to be staged at the old San Lazaro Hippodrome in Tayuman, Manila, every Araw ng Maynila, which is today.

The history of the race goes back to the 19^th century. Old-timers remember it as one of the most prestigious on the calendar.

Here’s the story, as I wrote it for a graduate school thesis:

“The Philippine Revolution of 1896 halted MJC’s racing activities for some time. They resumed after the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato in late 1897, which ended the conflict between Filipino revolutionaries and Spanish soldiers.

“To celebrate the truce, Manila mounted a month-long fiesta in January 1898, complete with boat races, fireworks, and plays. MJC’s contribution to the festivities was the “Gran Copa de Manila“, a magnificent race set for 1 May that year. An ornately chased silver cup, 22 inches high and decorated with the heads of horses and Justitia, the goddess of justice, was ordered from Hong Kong as the prize.

“On daybreak of race day, the Spanish-American War broke out. MJC closed down temporarily and sent the Gran Copa off to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank for safekeeping.

”There it stayed in the bank’s vaults for 38 years, until the bank returned the Cup to MJC in 1937. When the Second World War broke out in 1941, an MJC officer, Dr. Salustiano Herrera, kept the Cup and restored it to MJC after the War.

“The precious artifact was installed in the Club Trophy Room, until a fire in 1971 gutted the premises. The Gran Copa that is now displayed at SLLP is a replica and serves as a reminder of the grandeur of Philippine racing’s past.”

In the 1970s, the Gran Copa it was the biggest and most spectacular racing event of the year, with two divisions - Divisions I and II. San Miguel Beer was its biggest sponsor. Until the 1990s, the two names were tied inextricably in the minds of racing fans as the “SMB Gran Copa,” until San Miguel Corporation pulled its support from the sport in the late 1990s after Asia Brewery was brought in as another major sponsor.  

The late Manila mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing Sr. was responsible for reviving the glory of the Gran Copa, and his name is intertwined with its history to this day.

Is there hope for the return of the glory days of the Gran Copa? *** (Web: http://jennyo.net)

THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  17 June 2009, Wednesday

Don Enrico Wins Silver Cup            

Last June 14 was a grand day for Philippine horseracing. Four major stakes races were held that attracted hundreds of fans to the Philippine Racing Club’s New Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

In the 14^th Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office First Gentleman Silver Cup, Don Enrico copped top honors in the highly prestigious 2,000-meter race in honor of the sitting president’s spouse.

Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos’s Ibarra was sent off as the heavy favorite. Jockey Patricio Dilema guided the horse at the fast clip of 23′ in the first quarter, and pulled away by seven lengths in the back stretch, well ahead of the pack that included Lorraine Uy Wi’s Don Enrico racing off the pace in second. Also in contention were Hieroglyphics in third, Mr. Victory in fourth, as well as Defiant, Anonymous, Shining Fame, and El Terrible.

To the surprise of many, Ibarra faded in the stretch, allowing the Fernando Raquel Jr.-guided Don Enrico to stage a rally and win the PCSO Silver Cup by half-a-length over Ibarra. Hieroglyphics came in third, and Shining Fame fourth.

Splits for the race were clocked at 23′-24-24′-25′-30, with a total time of 2:07.5 for the Arturo Sordan-trained colt.

Among those present at the awarding ceremonies were PCSO Committee on Races chairman lawyer Jose T. Malang and vice-chairman Rey Empremiado. They handed over the facsimile check representing P1.1 million in first prize money to Don Enrico’s connections, horseowners Atty. Gabriel Espina and Gerry Espina.

In the Philippine Racing Commission 2^nd leg Triple Crown in honor of late Manila mayor and horseman Ramon D. Bagatsing, another upset was scored, this time by fourth favorite Dream Supreme. Ridden by John Cordero and trained by Jose Mario Jacob, the 3YO colt came from the back of the pack to win the 1800-meter race by two lengths, with splits of 12′-22′-25′-26-29 for a total time of 1:55.4.

Bred by owner Nathaniel G. Velasco on his Red N Ranch, Dream Supreme was sired by up and coming stallion Baseball Champion out of Belle of Ack.

 In the 1800-meter Philracom Hopeful Stakes, second choice Blue Seal edged out the favorite Boudica to grab the P600,000 first prize for new horseowners Juanito Ilano and Elmer Ramos.  The 3YO bay colt was steered by Jeffril Zarate and trained by David Clor.

The 900-meter Philracom 2YO Open Stakes was dominated by Herminio Esguerra’s coupled entries, outstanding favorites Brother Barack and Carriedo, who came in first and second respectively, followed by Ice Storm and Speed Spell.

Esguerra notched another achievement by being the breeder of the winners of three out of the four stakes races - Brother Barack (Mr. Sutter - Tatler Cover), Blue Seal (Account of Grace - Paycheck), and Don Enrico (Wind Blown - Kayumanggi). All three were bred at his showcase facility, Herma Farms and Stud, in Lipa, Batangas.  ***

THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  10 June 2009, Wednesday

PCSO Silver Cup, Three More on Sunday

Sunday, June 14, is a huge day for thoroughbred racing at the Philippine Racing Club’s New Santa Ana Park racecourse in Naic, Cavite. An unprecedented four major stakes races will be held on that day, making it one of the most explosive event days in recent memory.

One of them is the 14^th edition of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office First Gentleman Silver Cup. The 2,000-meter race is in honor of the sitting president’s spouse and is one of the most prestigious on the calendar for local-bred and island-born horses.

Declared to run are Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos’s Ibarra, Tony Tan’s Shining Fame, Raymund Puyat’s Hieroglyphics, Joseph Dyhengco’s El Terrible, Jake Maderazo’s Mr. Victory, Lorraine Uy Wi’s Don Enrico, Jun Molina’s Defiant, and Herminio S. Esguerra’s Anonymous.

Ibarra, winner of two legs of the 2007 Triple Crown and the 2008 PCSO Presidential Gold Cup, had a good tuneup two raceweeks ago and is expected to be sent off as the favorite. Don Enrico comes off two stakes wins - the Philracom Emerald I and Emerald II last May.

Others who won their tune-ups were Hieroglyphics, Mr. Victory, and Shining Fame. El Terrible and Defiant placed in theirs.

PCSO’s Chairman Sergio O. Valencia has approved P1.75 million in prize money, with P1.1 million to the winner. The second-placer receives P350,000, third, P175,000, and fourth, P85,000. A breeder’s purse of P40,000 is as an incentive to produce more Philippine thoroughbreds.

Trophies for the 2008 edition, which ran at San Lazaro Leisure Park. The replica of the PCSO Silver Cup (center) is awarded to the winning horseowner.

Also running on Sunday are three Philippine Racing Commission-supported stakes races: the 2^nd leg of the Triple Crown, in honor of horseman and late Manila Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing Sr., and the Hopeful Stakes, both 1,800-meter races for local-bred 3YO. For juveniles, there’s the 2YO Open stakes sprint over 900 meters.

Declared for the 2^nd leg of the Triple Crown are: Esguerra’s coupled entries Blue Ocean and Eternal Flame; Rita Pilapil’s coupled runners Heaven Sent (winner of the first leg) and Lively Dude; Nel Velasco’s Dream Supreme; Bienvenido C. Niles Jr.’s Iconic; and Alexander Chua’s Mr. Diamond.

Heaven Sent is expected to do well again, but Blue Ocean, who won a regular race two weeks ago, should not be discounted, and neither should Dream Supreme. All the others will put up a good fight and may surprise.

In the Hopeful Stakes, declared are Abalos’s Henry Sugar, Aristeo Puyat’s Boudica, C & H Enterprises’ Action Sailor, Esguerra’s Chief of Staff and Go Navy, Ilano and Sons’s Blue Seal, and Alchy Enterprises’ Princess Jacklyn.

 The 2YO Open Stakes is going to be exciting, with a new batch of young ‘uns all set to strut their stuff - Big Apo, Esguerra’s Brother Barack and Carriedo, Che and Ryan, Cong, Jeci Lapus’s Ice Storm, Market Value, Mt. Panamao, Roberto Yutadco’s Speed Spell, Summit Dancer, Taste of Paradise, and Woodsy Ribbon.

Both the Hopeful and 2YO stakes are ‘anything can happen’ races that racing fans shouldn’t miss. *** (Web: http://jennyo.net)

THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  3 June 2009, Wednesday

PCSO FG Silver Cup

The New Philippine Jockeys’ Association Inc. scored another fundraising event last Sunday during the Jockeys’ Day celebrations at the Philippine Racing Club’s New Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

The highlight of the modest racing festival was the Philippine Racing Commission-sponsored 4^th NPJA-Philracom Cup, with total prize money of P300,000 for first to fourth places.

The race was a 1,000-meter featuring Class  4-7A and -7B horses from the lowest groups. But to teach snobs not to discount any kind of race, this one was perhaps the most spectacular of the day in terms of delivering action and excitement.

Races starring horses from these two groups are notoriously the hardest to handicap since their performance may change from one outing to the next. There are hardly any sure wins to be found here; in fact the saying is, ‘the horse who slept best the night before has the best chance to win.”

Sent off as the favorite in the eight-horse field was Prince Larry, who had come off a win. Also selling were Snake Mi Spaghetti (also a winner last outing, with a nice converted time of 1:05 for the distance) and Gondor, known to pull off a surprise or two.

But when the dust cleared in searing hot action that had most of the horses fighting each other valiantly down the stretch, it was longshot Heading West - the pinakadehado sa lahat -  who crossed the wire first by a neck ahead of another longshot, Bodman’s Bounty.

Dumbfounded fans crumpled losing exotic bet tickets. Aficionados’ jaws dropped when they saw the official order of arrival. And at the winners’ circle, it was a proud horseowner, Arnold Salazar, who accepted the trophy.

That’s another interesting story there. Salazar had just bought the 10YO horse. This was his first horse - an aging runner with a little kick left, fine for double-double races. And here his new purchase handed him a trophy. If that’s not enough to hook you to the sport forever, what else could there be?

Heading West is trained by Boy Raquel and was ridden by Ryan Camañero, who rode by the rail to sneak up on the others who didn’t see him coming. It was a ride that invited comparison to jockey Calvin Borel’s rail victories on Mine That Bird in the recent Kentucky Derby and on Street Sense in 2007.

This just goes to show that horseracing, starring horses from any group, can deliver entertainment like no other.

In other news, the memorandum of agreement for the staging of the 14^th Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office First Gentleman Silver Cup was signed last Thursday at the PCSO offices.

The inking of the document was accomplished by PCSO chairman Sergio O. Valencia, Philracom chairman lawyer Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II, and Philippine Racing Club EVP-COO lawyer Ramon P. Ereñeta Jr.

PRC EVP & COO Atty. Ramon P. Ereñeta Jr., PCSO chairman Sergio O. Valencia, and Philracom chairman Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II hold up a facsimile check representing P 1.1 million pesos in prize money for the winner of the 14th PCSO First Gentleman Silver Cup.

The 2,000-meter race, to be held June 14 at the New Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite,  in honor of the sitting president’s spouse is one of the most prestigious on the calendar for local-bred and island-born horses.

First prize is P1.1 million, second, P350,000, third, P175,000, and fourth, P85,000. There is also a breeder’s purse of P40,000, as an incentive to produce more Philippine thoroughbreds.

The declared entries are: Joseph Dyhengco’s El Terrible, Tony Tan’s Shining Fame, Jake Maderazo’s Mr. Victory, Lorraine Uy Wi’s Don Enrico, Raymund Puyat’s Hieroglyphics, Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos’ Ibarra, Jun Molina’s Defiant, and Herminio Esguerra’s Anonymous.

Don Enrico won the Emerald I and Emerald II Stakes last May. Hieroglyphics came off a good win in a recent regular race, as did Mr. Victory, Shining Fame, and Ibarra. Defiant placed third in a recent tuneup; El Terrible, fourth.

This early, Ibarra, winner of two legs of the 2007 Triple Crown and the 2008 PCSO Presidential Gold Cup, is considered the favorite. ***

THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  27 May 2009, Wednesday

Racing Broadcast Problem       

Don Enrico scored back-to-back wins in this month’s Philippine Racing Commission-sponsored Gemstone stakes series by copping the 1,500-meter Emerald II S. at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, last Sunday, May 24.

The 4YO bay colt by Philippine champion Wind Blown out of Australian mare Kayumanggi massacred a sparse field to cruise to an easy victory, executing the same strategy he unleashed last May 17 to win the mile Emerald I S. by many lengths.

Jockey FM Raquel only shows the whip to Don Enrico. (Screenshot courtesy of SLBN.)

Ridden by Class A jockey Fernando Raquel Jr., the Lorraine Uy Wi-owned and Arturo Sordan-trained Don Enrico mowed down aging opponents Chariot of Fire, Mr. Victory, and Earl Grey even while carrying the heaviest impost at 57 kgs. Don Enrico logged 1:32.6 for the race.

The field for the Philracom Emerald II S. running the first quarter of the race. (Screenshot courtesy of SLBN.)

With Don Enrico running as outstanding favorite and certain to score a fait accompli in that race, more attention was given to the other development that racing week - the intermittent failure of the live racing broadcast out of San Lazaro Leisure Park.

Fans were dismayed to see their television screens flicker or go to black at intervals during the entire coverage including the running of races beginning Wednesday last week. “System message” and “waiting for signal” texts popped up with frequency. The audio quality cycled from “good” to “poor” to “non-existent”.

“Sagabal sa panunuod ng karera at pagsubaybay ng benta,” said “Nihawma”, a racing fan on the cyberforum thewinnersleague.com. A horseowner who regularly visits an off-track betting station claims that he saw costumers fling down their programs and leave the OTB, disgusted at the wonky transmission.

With last year’s pullout of MJC’s previous coverage provider, Makisig Network, MJC set up its own production arm - San Lazaro Broadcast Network. Production and transmission are now handled in-house.

Knowledgeable sources say that SLBN dismissed power amplifier service provider Telered some months ago to save costs. SLBN then acquired Telered’s old power amplifier, while neglecting to provide a backup system. The amplifier failed last racing week. SLBN borrowed one from Destiny, but the latter had to take it back on Wednesday. It was thought that the Wednesday races would have to be cancelled, until SLBN rented an amplifier elsewhere.

SLBN has ordered a new power amplifier from abroad, but, as a broadcast equipment supplier commented, “These things are not bought off the shelf. They are custom-built. It will take eight weeks to do that, plus shipping time.”

A look at industry sales will show that since 2003 and the move of MJC’s racecourse to Cavite from Manila, around 95% of the racing club’s gross sales from wagers come from OTBs.  Without a decent broadcast, the OTBs will fail. Sales will slump even more.

With the worldwide recession and the decline of racing as a profitable business - witness the racetracks that have shut down in the US and other countries - Philippine racing must step up in order to be sustainable. More than 5,000 people depend on the industry for their livelihood. Millions in the country and abroad enjoy the sport.

As a racing commentator since 2002, a quality live racing broadcast has always been my advocacy. This is how the industry pulls in revenues that keep it alive. More importantly, this is the face that Philippine racing shows to the world. Why can’t the industry get its act together on this?   *** (Web: http://jennyo.net)

Race tax bill passes Lower House

By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today, 20 May 2009, Wednesday

 (Banner story on the Sports page. Last two paragraphs below omitted from published story due to space constraints.)

“It’s a landmark day for the racing industry.”

This was the comment of Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra yesterday when the House of Representatives Ways and Means and Games and Amusements Committees approved House Bill 4176 that he authored.

The law rationalizes direct taxes on exotic bets which at present make Philippine horseracing, taxed at 20%, among the highest-taxed even among its counterparts abroad. With other deductions such as those for track take and prize money, the total tax rate for exotic bets soars to about 35%.

Exotic bets include the Winner-Take-All, Pick 6, Pick 5, superfecta, supersix, pentafecta, quartet, and triple trifecta. Direct taxes on these are the documentary stamp tax at 10% and the tax on winnings at 10%.

Cong. Mitra’s bill, incorporating policy suggestions from the Philippine Racing Commission, will cut the taxes on exotic bets by half to mirror the present tax rate on special bets - daily double, forecast, double quinella, trifecta, daily double plus one, extra double, and win - which are taxed 5% for DST and 4% for tax on winnings.

In his presentation before the two House committees, Philracom chairman lawyer Jose Ferdinand Rojas II pointed out that every time taxes on racing were reduced, industry gross sales and government revenue increased. “When Executive Order 194 was passed in 1987,” said Rojas, “reducing direct taxes on special bets, gross sales reached a billion pesos for the first  time the following year. A positive impact was felt immediately.”

Slide from the Philracom presentation showing the tax structure that passed muster (highlighted in yellow).

He added that paradoxically, when taxes are increased, revenues plunged. This occurred several times - when Presidential Decree 1947 increased the DST to 10%; in 1984 when PD 1959 doubled the DST to 20%, causing racing operations to cease for a time due to the prohibitive tax burden; and in 1993 when Republic Act 7660 increased the DST from 5% to 10% on special bets.

According to House Games and Amusements Committee chairman and Manila congressman Amado Bagatsing, the bill “will greatly benefit the betting public because more funds will be available for payouts. This in turn would weaken illegal bookie operations because they would not be able to match the higher payouts that the racing clubs will give under this scheme.”

Tarlac congressman Jeci Lapus agreed, saying that “this will be a big boost to the development of the horseracing and breeding industry. Increased sales will be an incentive for more players to invest in the sport by way of horses, infrastructure, and off-track betting stations.”

Cong. Mitra expressed his pleasure on the support his bill received from his colleagues in the Lower House, saying, “We expect this to encourage wider public participation and an increase in probable stakeholders, leading to jobs generation for trainers, jockeys, grooms, and other workers in the industry, and other economic benefits.”

The bill still has to undergo the scrutiny of the Senate before it passes into law.   ***

THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  20 May 2009, Wednesday

Longshot Filly Grabs Crown

Fashioning a spectacular wire-to-wire win, gray filly Heaven Sent galloped to victory in the mile first leg of the Philippine Racing Commission Triple Crown championship series held at the Philippine Racing Club’s New Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, last Sunday.

The stakes race and the two others in the prestigious championship trilogy are open only to elite Philippine-bred 3YO runners.

The Rita Pilapil-owned and Willy Fernandez-trained speedster steered by jockey Rodeo Fernandez broke quick out of the gate and took the lead. Despite hounding in the stretch by the favorite, the unbeaten chestnut colt Mr. Diamond, longshot Heaven Sent held off ten other opponents to earn the P1.8 million first prize.

Mr. Diamond came in second, good for P675,000; followed by Iconic and Dream Supreme as third and fourth placers, taking P375,000 and P150,000 respectively. Quarter times were 25-23′-24′-27′ for a total time of 1:40.6.

Awarding ceremony for the 1st leg Triple Crown: PRC EVP-COO Atty. Ramon P. Ereñeta, Philracom consultant Dr. Romy Buencamino, Philracom commissioner Dr. Eyo Fernando, jockey Rodeo Fernandez, PRC president Solomon Cua, and, also from Philracom, chairman Atty. Joy Rojas and commissioner Atty. Vic Tantoco. Behind them are trainer Willy Fernandez and the Tropang Heaven Sent (Rita Pilapil connections).

The breeder’s purse of P100,000 went to horseowner and breeder Jose Mari Franco, who matched the sire Heza Gone West to broodmare Kiss and Run to produce the outstanding filly.

Said trainer Willy Fernandez, “She’s a good horse who has done very well and we are confident of even better things from her.”

Rider Rodeo Fernandez said he was surprised that no other horse attempted to run head-to-head against Heaven Sent, which might have worn her out. Given her head at the far turn, she accelerated even farther and left the rallying Mr. Diamond to win by ¾ length.

Railbirds, running the race again in hindsight, commented that the failure of the other entries to run at or near the pace proved to be an advantage for Heaven Sent. “That’s the excitement of racing,” said a veteran jockey. “People learn their lessons and the scenario is bound to be different next time.” The second leg of the Triple Crown is set for June 14 also at NSAP.

The last filly to win a leg of the Triple Crown was Indelible Ink, who won the first leg in 2008 after a brilliant career as a juvenile. The year before that, Es Twenty Six won the third leg and went on to star in other major races. Will Heaven Sent do as well? Only time will tell.

Heaven Sent’s win mirrors the outcome of the G1 Preakness Stakes, run last May 16 at Pimlico Racecourse in Maryland. Superfilly Rachel Alexandra, who won the Kentucky Oaks for fillies two weeks before, scored by a length over the boys in the second leg of the US Triple Crown. Mine That Bird, winner of the Kentucky Derby, came in second to the powerhouse filly steered by Calvin Borel, who also piloted Rachel Alexandra in the Oaks, and Mine That Bird in the Derby.

Rachel Alexandra was the first filly to have won the Preakness since 1924, and the first horse to win from the No. 13 outside stall. She garnered unanimous votes as the US National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s top 3YO.  With all her accomplishments, owner Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stable does not feel compelled to make her run the grueling distance of the Belmont S., third leg of the US Triple Crown, and at this time her participation in that race is still being considered.

Also last May 17 at NSAP, another filly led from start to finish in the local Triple Crown’s auxiliary race, the Philracom Hopeful Stakes. Herminio S. Esguerra’s Eternal Flame, ridden by Val Dilema and trained by Clarito Alvarez, did 1:41.6 for the mile to win the P600,000 first prize. Stablemate Blue Ocean checked in second. Princess Jacklyn was third and Action Sailor fourth.

Eternal Flame, a Strong Material-Tatler Cover bay filly, was bred by Esguerra at his showcase ranch in Batangas, Herma Farms and Stud.

Yet another stakes race sponsored by Philracom was held that same day, also with a wire-to-wire outcome. Don Enrico jumped cleanly from the gate to win the mile Emerald I S. by many lengths, earning P300,000.   ***

THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  13 May 2009, Wednesday

Triple Crown I on Sunday

It’s all systems go for the running of the 2009 Philippine Racing Commission-backed first leg of the Triple Crown trilogy. It is the most significant race series on the calendar for 3YO local-breds.

These three races test the quality and ability of the produce of Philippine thoroughbred breeders - did they match the right mare to the right stallion, taking into account the tail-female line, nicking, and other factors? This is where breeders’ questions are answered, where horseowners are vindicated for their choice, and where racing fans are treated to an incredible racing experience.

The TC1, its auxiliary race the Hopeful I Stakes, and the Emerald I Stakes will be run on May 17 at the Philippine Racing Club’s New Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

Surrounded by a swirl of controversy two weeks ago for a number of accidents that occurred there, the track is being repaired by PRC’s racing department, in reaction to negative comments from horseowners, trainers, jockeys, and other racing stakeholders.

Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners president Mandaluyong Mayor lawyer Benhur Abalos, who had written a strongly-worded letter to PRC management after the “alarming” incidents last raceweek at NSAP, now commended the racing club for taking “prompt action” to fix the track surface.

“We are very pleased at the quick response of PRC,” said Abalos. “Our main concern here is for the safety of the jockeys rather than the horses and we trust that PRC continues the rehabilitation of their track to bring it to good racing condition.”

Veteran rider Antonio Alcasid Jr., president of the New Philippine Jockeys Association, said that so far, jockeys and exercise riders who work horses at NSAP have not reported any untoward incidents after repairs to the track surface were begun last week.

So, for the TC1 - who’s it going to be?

With one of the favorites, Go Army, scratched as early as Monday, it could be any of the remaining combatants - fillies Boudica, Heaven Sent, Virgin Liberty, and Windbeneathmywings, and colts Boni’s Gem, Batangas Baron, Creation, Dream Supreme, Go Navy (stablemate of Go Army), Iconic, Lively Dude, Mr. Akino, and Mr. Diamond.

Virgin Liberty, Boni’s Gem, and Dream Supreme, who have defeated Go Army in various matches, look good to do well in this mile race. Also one to consider is Mr. Diamond. Go Navy is likely to place.

The mile Hopeful I is a puzzle. Key Joshua was scratched, leaving Action Sailor, Bahala Na, Blue Ocean, Earresistable, Eternal Flame, Henry Sugar, Oko Boy, Princess Jacklyn, State Witness, Storm Gust, Tribal Queen, and Wind Turbulence.

Blue Ocean, a multiple stakes contender, will be one of the favorites here. Earresistable, who recently won a tune-up race in spanking style, should also get some votes, along with Henry Sugar and Tribal Queen.

The Emerald I is a four-horse affair with Tony de Ubago’s Chariot of Fire, Aristeo Puyat’s Cutting Edge, Lorraine Uy Wi’s Don Enrico, and Robert Yutadco’s Speed Almighty. This is anybody’s race, with Don Enrico perhaps having a slight edge.   ***

Go Army Out of Race

By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today, 12 May 2009, Tuesday

(Back sports page; last two paragraphs below omitted from published version)

 It’s a wide-open competition for Triple Crown I honors on May 17 at Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, with the withdrawal of classy chestnut colt Go Army from the first leg of the most prestigious racing event for 3YO local thoroughbreds.

Go Army (Mr. Sutter - J’Approve), bred by his owner Herminio S. Esguerra at his own Herma Farms and Stud in Lipa, Batangas, earned top honors during his juvenile campaign last year.

Despite a string of setbacks this year that marred his perfect 2YO record, Go Army is still one of the best-regarded 3YO horses in the country and was considered as one of the favourites going into this summer’s Philippine Racing Commission-sponsored Triple Crown series.

Reliable sources confirmed that Go Army connections submitted the requisite scratching form at the Philracom office today. The reason for the scratching was given as “bruised sole”, a catch-all phrase that connotes an injury, soreness, or other condition that prevents a horse from running in optimum condition.

 Sources revealed that Go Army incurred an injury in one leg after running in a tune-up race last May 3 at Santa Ana Park, which he won. This was during the same racing week that saw thirteen horses injured at the track, with four of them eventually breaking down and having to be humanely destroyed. The poor track condition was blamed for Go Army’s stressed leg.

 Veteran jockey Antonio Alcasid Jr., who steered Go Army to victory in the tune-up race and was declared to partner him again in the Triple Crown I, will be riding Go Army’s stablemate Go Navy instead in that race.

 Two other Philracom stakes races will also be held on May 17 at Santa Ana Park. The Hopeful I, the auxiliary race to the Triple Crown, is less one competitor with the scratching of Key Joshua. The Bonifacio Mantilla-owned colt went lame after a workout last week.

 In the Emerald I, the final lineup includes four horses - Tony de Ubago’s Chariot of Fire, Aristeo Puyat’s Cutting Edge, Lorraine Uy Wi’s Don Enrico, and Roberto Yutadco’s Speed Almighty. ***