Responsible Racing Journalism

THE HOARSE WHISPERER By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  3 March 2010, Wednesday

Those Track Conditions Again

With the coming of summer and the scorching El Niño heat, track conditions are expected to be among the top concerns in horseracing.

Baked mud – a common sight in summer. Not good.

Philippine racing is done on “dirt” – actually sea sand – rather than “turf” – grass – which is harder to maintain. The two existing racetracks, both in Cavite – Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona and Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic – have twin tracks that are composed of layers of different material. The materials include gravel, escombro, and sea sand on the surface. PRC’s tracks also have a layer of synthetic material.

Synthetic layer at PRC’s track. Taken in 2008, during construction. Good.

In summer, the sun bakes the surface and leaches moisture from the sand, making the sand powdery and difficult to negotiate. This is what aficionados call a “malalim (deep) na pista (track)”; track times may slow by two seconds or more. Regular watering of the track is required to dampen the top layer to provide traction for the horses. Obviously this should be done more often in summer. Frequent maintenance of the entire track must also be accomplished.

This brings us to the jockeys’ lament about track conditions at SLLP. According to an officer of the New Philippine Jockeys’ Association, they first wrote to MJC management about this in February 2009. AT the time, MJC placed bright orange traffic cones in the middle of the track in an effort to preserve the inner rail.

The jockeys reported an estimated 70% of horses – well above the average number – exhibited anxious and stressed behavior such as shying, leading to collisions. Several jockeys and exercise riders were injured as a result of such incidents.

A horse shying. Not good.

MJC promised to have the track rehabilitated. Surveys and assessments were performed. After that, says the NPJA officer, work on the track stopped; at least the traffic cones were removed.

It has been a year since, and the jockeys say there is no improvement to the track condition. With the onslaught of a fierce summer, they fear the resurgence of accidents.

In addition, both clubs have been called to task by the Philippine Racing Commission for running some races over the past several weeks without club veterinarians being present. Philracom has its own vets on hand, but the clubs are mandated by racing rules and regulations to provide their own.

To run races properly, safety should be paramount. Among the requirements to ensure that safety are proper track conditions. The presence of the racing club’s own veterinarians is also essential because there are about fifty to a hundred or more horses on the track on racedays, all of whom need to be checked for lameness, fever, other ailments or injuries, proper shoeing, and so on, before running. Should a horse act up in the gate and injure itself, a vet is needed to examine the horse and recommend whether it be scratched or retained in the race.

In 2007 at SLLP – veterinarians. Good-looking.

Industry takeholders and aficionados are face-palming. Poor track conditions, no vets, a searing summer season – what’s next? Thank the racing gods for the recent frequent carryovers in the betting, meaning handicapping has improved and the benefits of policies instituted by Philracom last year are being felt.

But it’s too hot to gripe. The lowdown? Fix the track, hire more vets, and let’s go racing!  *** (Web: http://jennyo.net)

THE HOARSE WHISPERER By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  24 February 2010, Wednesday

Of Upsets and Carryovers

Sports fans were treated to a fantastic weekend of racing at Santa Ana Park last February 20 and 21 with the staging of the Philippine Racing Commission’s Amethyst trio of stakes races. The mile Amethyst II was run on Saturday, with eight runners. Open to 3YO fillies, this and Sunday’s Amethyst IV for 3YO colts are considered tune-ups going into the Philracom Triple Crown series for local-bred horses this summer. The Amethyst III on Sunday was the second leg of the Imported/Local Challenge Series and showcased a clash between track rivals Don Enrico and Ibarra.

In the Amethyst II, Well Well Well, who had campaigned hard as a juvenile, was the heavy favorite, with two recent consecutive wins. She also had the best time for the distance at 1:45.5. Second choice was the feisty Ice Storm, the veteran of them all in number of races run. The Chairwoman, Echikatsu, Westerly Wind, and Kristal’s Beauty had stellar past performances. Dark horses Mayor Bulaklakin and Andalucia could not be ignored.

Down the stretch, fans stared in amazement at the frisky chestnut romping seven lengths in front of the pack to score the race. It was far fourth favorite Kristal’s Beauty, steered by young rider Mark Alvarez and trained by Antonio Bersalona. With quarters of 26-24′-25′-28 for a total 1:44, she clearly creamed her opponents and tossed her hat into the Triple Crown ring as one to watch.

Owner Rodelio Engle, new to racing, says this is the first trophy he’s received. Bred by businessman Jose Mari Franco, Kristal’s Beauty is by Van Nistelrooy out of Bella Noelle. She’s another feather in Franco’s cap, who also bred last season’s top money earner Heaven Sent.

In the mile Amethyst IV, Carriedo, who was valedictorian of his juvenile class, was sent off as the outstanding pick, with Yes Pogi as far second choice. There were eleven runners in all, including three sets of coupled entries. This was a more closely-contested fight, with far third favorite Scotland Yard beating Yes Pogi to the wire by a head. Righthererightnow managed third, while a spent Carriedo came in fourth.

Owned by Josephy Dyhengco, Scotland Yard (Minsk – Zip Queen) was ridden by Jeffril Zarate and is trained by Clarito Alvarez.  The time was 26-24′-25′-28 for a total 1:44.6.

But the biggest surprise came in the 1,700 meter Amethyst III. It was considered a match race between local-bred Don Enrico, crowned the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association’s pick for Horse of the Year, and island-born champion Ibarra. Imports Weder Weder Lang, Botbo, Fierce Fighter, and Tiwi Magic were thought to be battling for places only.

As expected, Ibarra took the lead, with Don Enrico hard at his flank. Running off the pace six lengths away was Tiwi Magic, followed by Botbo, Weder Weder Lang, and Fierce Fighter. At the home turn, the two pacesetters ran neck and neck only to fade and be nipped by half a length at the finish by Tiwi Magic, the longest shot of all who carried only P5,116 in daily double wagers.

Guided by Virgilio Camañero Jr. and trained by Nestor Manalang, Australian import Tiwi Magic (Hemingway [Ire] – Dreamtime [Aus]) is owned by Antonio Tan, who also owns champions Shining Fame and Native Land.

Other shockers that weekend were more carryovers in the Winner-Take-All events. With the barrage of longshots, no one won both WTA sets on Saturday nor the first and second sets on Sunday. That’s a quadruple carryover amounting to P7 million for the next Santa Ana Park raceweek beginning March 2.

Upset wins and huge carryovers – that’s racing for you, pure and undiluted excitement. *** (Web: http://jennyo.net)

THE HOARSE WHISPERER By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  17 February 2010, Wednesday

Don Enrico, Jesse Guce, are PSA Awardees

The Philippine Sportswriters Association recently announced their honorees for 2009 – and in horseracing, it’s Don Enrico for Horse of the Year and Jesse B. Guce for Jockey of the Year.

According to the Philippine Racing Commission website (philracom.gov.ph), Guce’s “horse prize earnings” or “money earned” for 2009 amount to P57.28 million. This represents the prize money earned by the horses he has ridden that have placed from first to fourth (the only places that are awarded prizes).  Guce notched a first- to fourth-place record of 264-209-175-169 out of 1,290 total rides in 2009.

In contrast, second-ranked rider Fernando M. Raquel Jr. rode 992 times last year to create a 200-157-156-112 record, with P46.40 million in horse prize earnings – almost P11 million off the earnings of Guce’s horses.

Don Enrico, despite P6.58 million in earnings with a record of 14-1-1-0, was not the top-ranked horse in terms of money earned, according to Philracom.  That honor went to Heaven Sent, who made P6.63 million with a 7-4-1-2 record.

Still, HotY honors are usually given to older horses that have notched accomplishments that younger horses such as Heaven Sent, then a 3YO filly, cannot match at their ages. Heaven Sent has seen action mostly against same-sex and same-age opponents over short- to mid-distances; Don Enrico,  then a 4YO colt, has gone up against both younger and older horses, imports and locals, in grueling open races of up to 2,000 meters.

Don Enrico’s stakes wins in 2009 include the Philracom Garnet II, Amethyst II, Emerald I, Emerald II, Sapphire II, Yellow Topaz I, Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing Memorial Cup Div. II, San Miguel-MARHO Jade Breeders’s Cup Classic, Philtobo Classic, and a rare sweep of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s First Gentleman Silver Cup in June and Presidential Gold Cup in December.

Now 5YO, the progeny of Philippine champion horse Wind Blown out of Kayumanggi is owned by Lorraine Uy Wi and former Biliran congressman Gerry Espina Jr.

Ironically, it is jockey Raquel who is Don Enrico’s regular rider and steered him to his victories. Guce, however, booted more winners and placers in 2009, among them Ibarra, Native Land, Shining Fame, Thoti’s Best, classy import Syrinx, and last season’s juvenile sensation Carriedo.

Guce is the son of former star jockey Jesus “Bong” C. Guce, now retired due to injuries sustained over the course of a three-decade long career.

The PSA officers are Teddyvic Melendres, president (Philippine Daily Inquirer), Rey Bancod, first vice-president (Tempo), Jun Lomibao, second vice-president (Business Mirror), Riera Mallari, secretary (Manila Standard-Today), and Joe Antonio, treasurer (People’s Journal). They announced that the PSA Awards Night will be held on March 1 at the Manila Hotel.

The Philippine thoroughbred industry (encompassing racing and breeding) welcomes the recognition given to its achievers by third-party organizations such as the PSA. Horseracing is a sport that keeps to itself, with few save its aficionados and stakeholders knowing and caring what accomplishments are being made, records broken, and standards raised in one of the toughest sports of all, a marriage of human and equine athleticism.

For the PSA to continue honoring racing’s achievers every year is in itself a deed worthy of recognition.  *** (Web: http://jennyo.net)

THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  10 February 2010, Wednesday

 Amethyst Races this Month

The deep purple glow of the amethyst, traditional birthstone for February, is an apt symbol for this month’s slew of stakes races from the Philippine Racing Commission featuring the 3YO gems of the track.

Total prizes of P500,000 for first to fourth places have been allocated for each of these races, to be held at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

The 1,600-meter Amethyst II for 3YO local fillies and Amethyst IV for 3YO local colts is set for February 21; the 1,700-meter Amethyst III – the second leg of the Imported-Local Challenge Series for 3YO – will run on February 20.

These and other stakes races to come are tune-ups for 3YO leading to the Triple Crown  this summer, with the mile first leg to be held on May 9 and the 1,800-meter second leg on June 6, both at SAP. The 2,000-meter third leg is on July 18 at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

Aside from those contenders that already raced as juveniles – Carriedo, Pinakamagaling, Speed Spell, Ice Storm, Thoti’s Best, and Perfect Material, to name some – it’s worth looking out for the other 3YO that come fresh to the fight this year – Tarlak (who won a race at SAP last Saturday as a longshot), Moscow Vallet, Len Len, Queen of Class, Rolling Thunder, and Lord of the Sun.

Carriedo (2009)

Carriedo dominated last year’s juvenile season, but with the influx of new talent, the Triple Crown series are anybody’s guess at this point. Certainly it’s worth taking a close look at the coming Amethyst races as well as the ordinary races for 3YO to spot likely champions of the future.

Meanwhile, fat payoffs abounded again at SAP last week. A hail of longshots on Saturday – Moscow Vallet, Hepburn, Arithmetic, Delightful Belle, and Ray Moon Star – resulted in a P1.4 million carryover in the first Winner-Take-All event to the next day. The second WTA set paid P377,000 per winning ticket.

On Sunday, the first WTA set grossed P7.66 million. More dark horses came in first at the wire to throw everyone into a tizzy – tiny Walk the Talk in Race 1, lightly-regarded Royal Scepter in Race 2 and Dominance in Race 4, and stunners Speak Low in Race 5 and Key Boy in Race 7. Only eleven winning tickets remained, each worth P581,000.

The second set of the WTA was almost as rich. With Dreamin’ Again posting a surprise win in Race 8, the payout was P454,000 for each of two winning tickets.

A bettor holds a racing program. (Levi Lacandula, 2007, via the Web)

Fans are praising the handicapping of PRC’s racing department, which has been preparing blockbuster lineups since the start of the year. Credit should also be given to the horseowners and trainers who participated in the races.

Sales were also unexpectedly strong – the daily double pools were regularly over P600,000, when formerly they would be just a bit below or over the half-million peso mark.

With things going well the first six raceweeks of the year, the Philippine thoroughbred industry is optimistic that sales will rebound in the months to come. Well, there’s nowhere else to go but up. Will we see a return to the million-peso daily double pools of five years back? Let’s wait and see – and hope and do.  *** (Web: http://jennyo.net)