Responsible Racing Journalism

THE HOARSE WHISPERER By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today, 20 January 2010, Wednesday

Ibarra Wins Garnet II

After a challenging season that saw him bow under consecutive losses in major stakes races, track icon Ibarra (Yonaguska - Fire Down Under) rebounded with a win in the Philippine Racing Commission Garnet II Stakes last Sunday.

Held at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, the 1,500-meter race was the first in the Local vs. Imported Challenge Series that is actually a free-for-all for all comers, unlike other stakes races that differentiate between Philippine-bred runners and imports in an effort to level the playing field.

Ibarra is an “island-born”, meaning his dam, Fire Down Under, was imported from the US into this country while in foal (pregnant) to the stallion Yonaguska. Local-bred horses are the produce of matings conducted in the country. Ibarra was the only island-born in the eight-horse field; the rest were imports.

The Garnet II was an easy win for the Ruben Tupas-trained Ibarra in a comeback of sorts that saw the feisty horse maintain a four-length lead wire to wire until the finish line, clocking 18-24′-24′-25 for a total time of 1:32.

Ibarra takes the lead from the get-go and never looks back.

Guided for the first time by jockey Jesse Guce, Ibarra needed hardly any urging and no whipping at all to bring home the top prize of P300,00 to his owner, Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos.

Ibarra shows off his winning form.

Australian imports Tiwi Magic placed second and Best of Tsuimai fourth, and American import Fierce Fighter took third.

Jockey Jesse Guce salutes the stewards after the race.

At the awarding ceremony: MJC chairman and CEO Atty. Alfonso R. Reyno Jr., Philracom chairman Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II, trainer Ruben S. Tupas, Philracom commissioners James Paman and Eduardo C. Domingo Jr., and guest Richard Merck.

Jockey Jesse Guce, daughter Ina, and singer Richard Merck.

All photos by Ben Maniclang.

This weekend at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, the events to watch are the Philracom Garnet III on Saturday and the Garnet IV on Sunday. Both are mile races that are tune-ups for the summer’s Triple Crown competition for elite 3YO.

The Garnet III showcases fillies Andalucia, Ice Storm, Tiger Moon, Well Well Well, and Viva Vola. The colts running in the Garnet IV are Final Judgement, Gastambide, Lakota Creek, Pinakamagaling, and Righthererightnow.

Meanwhile, the Philracom continues its revision of Philippine racing rules and regulations. Known as the “Blue Book”, the handbook has been printed several times over the past couple of decades but gets outdated as changes are made to make the rules more fair and responsive.

According to Philracom chairman lawyer Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II, the agency “is bringing the rules up to date by incorporating changes brought about by amendments and Board resolutions, streamlining procedures, and doing everything else that needs to be done.”

The rules, cited as “PR”, encompass all aspects of racing that Philracom has jurisdiction over, from qualifications and responsibilities of horseowners, trainers, jockeys, and grooms to rules on race conduct, drug-testing protocols, and Stud Book rules. The revised and updated Blue Book is expected to be released within the year.   *** (Web: http://jennyo.net)

ERRATUM: Thanks to Josh (”Nihawma”) of thewinnersleague.com for pointing out that Jesse Guce has ridden Ibarra before - and also guided him to victory in  a major stakes race. See http://jennyo.net/gogirlracing/?p=1012

THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  13 January 2010, Wednesday

 Racing Looks Forward

Overall, last year was a moderately challenging one for the Philippine horseracing industry. A steady dip in sales, operational glitches, and Acts of God were speed bumps along the track; yet, as always, racetrackers and racing fans pulled together and made it through another year.

Among this year’s highlights:

January marked a historic event - the move of the Philippine Racing Club from its 72 year old racetrack in Makati to new facilities in Naic, also called Santa Ana Park. An entire community was uprooted as all horses and the majority of trainers, jockeys, grooms, other racetrack workers, and their families moved south en masse.

In May, Manila Jockey Club had persistent problems with its broadcast transmission of their live races because of equipment problems. Over at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, heavy rains wrought havoc on the months-old track, causing injuries to some horses. The problem was smoothed over by the following raceweek.

In the same month, a landmark bill was passed by the Lower House - the racing taxes bill (HB 4176). Authored by Palawan representative Abraham Mitra, son of the late Speaker of the House and prominent horseowner Ramon V. Mitra Jr., the bill seeks the rationalization of onerous racing taxes in order to make the activity more sustainable and viable as a business. The passage of this law by the Senate would ensure the survival of a hundreds-year-old tradition and industry that provides thousands with their livelihoods and generates income for the government.

August saw long-overdue recognition bestowed on one of the most influential figures in the sport - the late Manila Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing. The Bagatsing family and racing and corporate friends staged a week-long celebration at PRC’s Santa Ana Park that recalled the contributions of the late Mayor. Held during his birthday week, the festival saw cash prizes and sacks of rice awarded to an unsung yet vital sector of the industry - the grooms.

Typhoon Ondoy hit the country hard in the last week of September. Several racedays at both MJC and PRC were cancelled as people struggled to rebuild in the wake of the raging flash floods that inundated many parts of the city.

In the early part of October, racing fans were treated to the Klub Don Juan de Manila’s Don Juan Derby Festival at MJC’s San Lazaro Leisure Park.  This event emphasized fun and frolic and a good time was had by all.

The end of October unleashed the first wave of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s Diamond Anniversary celebrations at Santa Ana Park in commemoration of the agency’s 75^th year. Followed by more special races and the culminating Diamond Cup in November, the events proved so popular with racing fans, becoming one of the highest grossing events of the year, that the PCSO Committee on Races is proposing that a similar festival - the Anniversary Races - be held yearly, bringing the agency’s annual major racing events to three, the other two being the First Spouse Silver Cup and the Presidential Gold Cup.

Traditionally held in the last PRC raceweek of November, the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners’ Jade Anniversary Breeders’ Cup event proved one of the year’s strongest draws, with the betting turnover grossing over P42 million on that raceweek’s Sunday. Six championship races with hefty prize money from corporate sponsors San Miguel Beer (through San Miguel Corporation chairman Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr., one of MARHO’s founders) and Philracom attracted elite runners whose stellar performances elicited raves from aficionados.

The Philippine Thoroughbred Owners’ and Breeders’ Association closed the year at Santa Ana Park with their 10^th Grand Championship Day, another much-awaited annual tradition.

The sport was dominated by 2YOs Azcarraga and Carriedo, 3YO Heaven Sent, and older horse Don Enrico. More on last year’s racing - and the Horse of the Year - next week.

A joyous new year to all as racing prepares for more interesting times in 2010.   *** (Web: http://jennyo.net)

 THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  30 December 2009, Wednesday

 Philtobo Champions

 The racing year ended with a bang at the Philippine Racing Club’s New Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, with the staging of the 10^th Philippine Thoroughbred Owners’ and Breeders’ Grand Championship Day.

Philracom-Philtobo Juvenile Championship (1,600m): Once more Carriedo asserted his domination of the juvenile ranks by cruising to an easy win with jockey Jesse Guce, crushing a ten-horse field that included stablemate Gastambide who placed fourth. Aristeo Puyat’s longshot Rolling Thunder came in second, while FO Vergara’s Well Well Well came in third.

Carriedo (Deputy Bodman-Astuce) is owned and was bred by Herminio Esguerra. The Dave de la Cruz-trained bay colt clocked 25′-25-26-29′ for a total time of 1:46 to win the first place purse of P1.2 million.

Philtobo 3YO Fillies Championship (1,600m): As expected, Rita Pilapil’s Heaven Sent, steered by Mark Alvarez, pulverized opponents in this event. The Jose Mari Franco-bred and Nestor Manalang-trained gray filly by Hezagonewest out of Kiss and Run clocked 1:47 for the mile. Navratilova settled for second, while Frozen Margarita took third and Rosa’s Success fourth place.

Viva Prime-Philtobo 3YO Colts Championship (1,600m): Manny Santos’s Oh Wacky, the close second favorite in betting sales, clocked 1:46.7 to win first over placers Creation, Iconic, and Show Master. Ridden by promising youngster John Alvin Guce and trained by Manuel Vicente, the bay colt by Strong Material out of Tumataginting won another breeders’s prize for Herminio Esguerra.

 Philtobo Classic Championship (2,000m): Don Enrico, guided by Fernando Raquel Jr., romped home with top honors in a no-brainer that had fans wondering only in what fashion he would win and by how many lengths. Can you say “Horse of the Year”? The Lorraine Uy Wi-owned 4YO bay colt capped an outstanding year with this championship, winning wire-to-wire by eight over Bumble Bee, Ididitmyway, and Dumadagundong.

 The win earned P300,000 for the owner and a breeder’s prize for Herminio Esguerra, who has won most of the breeder’s trophies this year for the victories of his Herma Farms and Stud produce. By Philippine champion Wind Blown out of Austalian broodmare Kayumanggi, Don Enrico, conditioned by Arturo Sordan Jr., looks likely to do well next season in stakes races for older horses.

The Hoarse Whisperer extends best wishes to all for a happy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year celebration, with best wishes for speed, endurance, and victory in all things. More hoarse whispers on horse matters in the year to come. *** (Web: jennyo.net)

 THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  23 December 2009, Wednesday

 10^th Philtobo Championship Day

 Horseracing ushers out 2009 with the big explosive bang of the Philippine Thoroughbred Owners’ and Breeders’ Organization’s 10^th Grand Championship Day, set for Sunday at the Philippine Racing Club’s New Santa Ana Park racecourse in Naic, Cavite.

Philtobo was established in 1998 to promote the breeding of quality Philippine racehorses on par with world standards. Over the years, Philtobo has initiated various programs that recognize and encourage excellence in the sport, among them the Gintong Lahi Awards and the Philtobo Championship Races, first known as the Philtobo Mitra Cup after one of its founding members, the late Speaker of the House of Representatives Ramon Mitra Jr.

Ten years has passed since the first Philtobo races were held, and this year marks a milestone in the history of the event. According to Philtobo president Bienvenido C. Niles Jr., “This year, the focus is on the juveniles, to encourage breeders and horseowners in the 2YO aspect of racing, and we include the island-born runners as eligible,” unlike other racing programs that restrict eligibility to Philippine-breds.

The prize money for the juvenile championship has been increased to P2 million. Four other championships will be held. There will also be special trophy races for 2YO with added prizes of P100,000.

2YO Championship Race (1,600m): For the first time in the history of this event, both juvenile colts and fillies groups will be merged to compete against each other against a mile, a hundred meters more than the 1,500 meters distance it used to be at the old Santa Ana Park racetrack in Makati.

The 13-horse field promises a well-contested fight between the best juveniles in the land, but it looks like coupled entries Carriedo and Azcarraga will be the favorites. Carriedo easily won the MARHO-Philracom Jade Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Colts fun at Naic last November 29 and the Philracom Juvenile Championship last December 6. Azcarraga has not had an easy time of it in her recent campaigns, but the island-born filly’s quality is expected to shine through in this race, having placed fourth to Carriedo in the Philracom Juvenile Championship.

Stiff opposition will be put up by Thoti’s Best, Gastambide, and Pinakamagaling, who placed second, third, and fourth respectively to Carriedo in the MARHO Jade Juvenile Colts. Pinakamagaling copped third in the recent Philracom Juvenile Championship. Tiger Moon, winner of the MARHO-Philracom Jade Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race, will also show her mettle here, as will Thoti’s Best stablemate Perfect Material who placed third in that race.

Looking for a place in the limelight is Rolling Thunder, who won as a longshot also last November 29 in a MARHO Jade Trophy Race. The other entries in this race are Invincible, Well Well Well, Len Len, Toy Warrior, and Kristal Beauty.

3YO Fillies Championship (1,600m): It looks like a cinch for Heaven Sent in this race. The mile is her specialty, and she has the most experience in high-caliber stakes races, having won two legs of the Triple Crown this year, and recently placing second to Nuclear Power in the MARHO Jade Breeders’ Cup Filly Mile. Frozen Margarita, Navratilova, and Rosa’s Success will try their best to snag a win here, but will likely settle for places.

3YO Colts Championship (1,600m): Iconic easily won a recent tuneup race also at Naic during the OTB-SAPI races. Oh Wacky has been showing his class all year, winning a string of minor stakes races. Expected to put up a good fight are Creation and Showmaster, who might pull off upsets.

Classic Championship (2,000m): This race looks like a cinch for Don Enrico, who cruised to a win in the 2,000 meter MARHO-San Miguel Beer Jade Breeders’ Cup Classic by many lengths, without use of the whip. Ididitmyway placed third in that same race. Dumadagundong and Bumble Bee will strive for best places in this event. *** (Web: jennyo.net)

 THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  16 December 2009, Wednesday

 Music King, Carriedo are Philracom Champions

 After the dust had cleared and the horses returned to the saddling paddock, lathered with sweat, two grand champions stood revealed last Sunday at the New Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite - juvenile Carriedo and veteran Music King.

Hardworking bay colt Carriedo proved himself a true winner after trouncing a talented field of 12 other 2YO runners, among them stablemate and multiple stakes winner Azcarraga.  Owned and bred by Herminio Esguerra, the tandem was sent off by bettors as the outstanding favorite in the mile-long Philippine Racing Commission Juvenile Championship.

Speedster Thief in the Nite took off like a shot once the gates opened, setting the pace while Carriedo ran three lengths off, followed by Lakota Creek. Into the backstretch, jockey Jesse Guce on Carriedo began moving up, shortening the distance to grab the lead at the far turn, a bit ahead of Pinakamagaling who caught up to second.

Carriedo, trained by Dave de la Cruz, took the home turn cleanly and bounded down the lane with hardly any urging from Guce to win by four lengths from filly Ice Storm, who staged a late but ineffective rally in the stretch.

 Quarters for the race were 26-25-25-28 for a total time of 1:44 for 1,600 meters.

 The win was worth P1.5 million for Esguerra, while congressman Jeci Lapus, owner and trainer of Ice Storm, received the second place purse of P562,000. Pinakamagaling settled for third and P312,500 while Azcarraga took fourth and P125,000.

Carriedo, sired by Deputy Bodman (USA) out of broodmare Astuce (Aus), has a record of ten wins and two second places, and career earnings to date of around P5 million.  Deputy Bodman (Deputy Minister-Buzz My Bell) comes from the Northern Dancer bloodline that dominated 20^th century breeding, along with the Mr. Prospector and Nasrullah lines. These male lines continue to impress into this century.

Deputy Minister (Can) was on the top of the general sire list for two seasons or so in the late ’90s, and is a Nearco line stallion, along with the other prominent stallions Nasrullah, Turn-to, and Icecapade.

Also last Sunday, Napoleon Chua’s 5YO Music King (Self Feeder-Seattle’s Best) showed his mettle when he outran five other speedballs in the 900-meter Philracom Grand Sprint Championship.

Sent off as far second choice to two-leg Triple Crown winner Heaven Sent, the John Paul Guce-steered and Joselito Tornandizo-trained sprinter executed a come-from-behind tactic and clocked 54.6 seconds to snag the first place purse of P600,000. Heaven Sent took second place and P225,000, Vivere third and P125,000.

 The same day saw the staging of the 2009 Off-Track Betting Stations Association of the Philippines mile race for the benefit of indigent Philippine General Hospital patients, with prize money put up by Philracom. Armando Sanchez’s American import Mooney Money (Mojave Moon-Monochrome), second favorite, won by a length and a half from Fierce Fighter. Longshot Trinity Moon came in third, Botbo fourth.

The rest of the races on the 13-racecard were class-division, sponsored by OTBSAPI members, with trophies to the winning horseowners. The winners were Juan Molina’s Love or Money, Nonoy Niles’s Iconic, Cesar Azurin’s Jetprop, Nel Velasco’s Amsterdam, Marlon Cunanan’s Royal Heiress, Emmanuel Claudio’s Bahala Na, Rafael la Rosa’s Strike Force, Roger Gabutan’s Wadialay Zing, Ireneo Paras’s Hepburn, and George Lazarte’s Remus.

In other developments, the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners held its 35^th Anniversary Party last Monday, where MARHO president Mandaluyong City mayor Benhur Abalos appealed to the assembled horseowners to support congressman Abraham Mitra’s bill for rationalized racing taxes in the Senate.    ***

 THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  9 December 2009, Wednesday

Don Enrico Wins PCSO Gold Cup

 “So now we know,” said railbirds, “who the Horse of the Year is likely to be.”

This was the buzz after Don Enrico won the 37^th Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Presidential Gold Cup, the richest and most celebrated event on the racing calendar, last Sunday at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park.

Steered by Fernando Raquel Jr., the 4YO Philippine-bred colt negotiated the 2,000-meter journey with relative ease, preferring to run off the pace with island-born rival Ibarra taking the lead in the six horse-field.

The four other runners were Sword O’War, Dream Supreme, Shining Fame, and Dumadagundong. All broke well from the gate but these four were no match for Don Enrico and Ibarra, who set as much as eight lengths between them and Shining Fame who was running in third.

 It looked like a match race with the two contestants way in front, with Ibarra, guided by Kelvin Abobo, slightly ahead by as much as three lengths in the backstretch.

But come the far turn, Don Enrico began to rev up and easily caught up to Ibarra. The two took the home turn almost as one. Just past the bend, Raquel gave Don Enrico a little flick of the whip on the shoulder. That faint signal was enough to send Don Enrico into overdrive. The brave bay colt flung out his legs and ran the race of his life, stride after patient stride sending him farther away from his opponents till he crossed the wire way ahead of them, crowning himself a champion and bringing home the gold.

Ibarra came second to bag a hefty P500,000 purse; Dream Supreme third to earn P250,000; and Shining Fame fourth for P125,000.

PCSO chairman Sergio Valencia himself presented the heavy gold replica cup to Don Enrico’s owners Lorraine Uy Wi and Gerardo Espina Jr., and golden trophies to jockey Raquel and trainer Arturo Sordan Jr.

Also present at the awarding ceremony were Philippine Racing Commission chairman lawyer Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, PCSO Committee on Races chair lawyer Jose Malang and vice-chair Reynaldo Empremiado, MJC chairman lawyer Alfonso Reyno Jr., Pacific Gaming’s Tan Eng Hwa, and other racing officials and guests.

Facsimile checks worth P1.5 million from PCSO and P1 million from Philracom were presented to the beaming owners. The P2.5 million total prize for first place makes this year’s PCSO Gold Cup one of the best-rewarded in its history.

 ”We congratulate the owners of Don Enrico,” said PCSO chairman Valencia, “on the grand performance displayed by their horse today, and look forward to the future champions that will  emerge at this annual event. We hope the generous prize money put up by the two agencies may be an incentive for breeders and owners to continue producing quality Philippine-bred champions.”

Not as large a horse as his sire, the “mighty Wind Blown” (as racing commentators have named him in an oft-repeated label that has become a cliché in the sport’s circles), Don Enrico showed the legacy of the “winningest” horse in Philippine racing with his trick of pulling away from the pack in the stretch and going on to triumph by lengths.

“Parang ama niya kung tumakbo,” marveled ranch hands from Herma Farms and Stud, where Don Enrico was born to Australian broodmare Kayumanggi.  Like Wind Blown, Don Enrico is considered late-maturing, getting better as he ages, like fine wine. He also has no problem with heavy handicap weights and runs well on both MJC and Philippine Racing Club tracks.

 Will Don Enrico be hailed Horse of the Year? We’ll find out in just a few weeks.   ***

 THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  2 December 2009, Wednesday

 Successful PCSO and MARHO Races

 Put together speed plus the best horses plus talented jockeys plus well-balanced handicapping and you’ve got the recipe for a successful racing event - and that’s what was served last raceweek at the Philippine Racing Club’s New Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.  

The Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners celebrated its 35^th anniversary with the staging of the week-long 14^th MARHO Breeders’ Cup championships. Now an annual tradition among racing fans and participants since it was launched by MARHO’s Aristeo Puyat and Sandy Javier in 1996, the six championships run last Sunday showcased a scintillating cast of the best among the elite thoroughbred runners in the country today.

The MBC Sprint (1,000 meters) was won by defending champion EJ’s Magic (Self Feeder - Heir Apparent). Owned by CT Castro, trained by Ernesto Roxas, and ridden by jockey Fernando Raquel Jr., the 5YO veteran blasted past opponents Tiger Song, Minsk City, Sutter’s Royal, and Eternal Flame to cop the P200,000 first prize. Million Dollar, a previous winner of the event, was scratch the day before the race.

The Philracom-MBC Juvenile Fillies (1,300 m) was hotly contested, but at the end, MP Sanchez’s Tiger Moon (Rum Tum Tiger-Last Snip) prevailed, guided by promising youngster John Paul Guce and conditioned by long-time trainer Johnny Sordan.

Honors in the Philracom-MBC Juvenile Colts went to the favorite, Herminio Esguerra’s Carriedo (Deputy Bodman - Astuce). Steered by Jesse Guce and trained by Dave de la Cruz, the feisty bay colt easily undermined his rivals.

The MBC Filly Mile was a revelation, with top favorite Heaven Sent fading in the stretch to allow the John Cordero-piloted Nuclear Power (Wind Blown - My Sweet Girl) to come from behind. This was another win for the Esguerra racing stable and for trainer de la Cruz. 

John Cordero on Nuclear Power winning the MBC Filly Mile.

Dream Supreme (Baseball Champion - Belle of Ack) reigned in the Santa Ana Park - MBC Colt Mile. Another John Cordero-ridden mount, this one owned and bred by Nathaniel Velasco and trained by Jose Mario Jacob, the brave bay colt charged past seven other rivals to claim the P500,000 first prize.

In the 2,000-meter San Miguel Beer-MBC Classic, the victory and P1 million first prize went to the favorite, Lorraine Uy Wi’s Don Enrico (Wind Blown-Kayumanggi), ridden by Raquel and trained by Arturo Sordan Jr. The son of track icon Wind Blown (Hazm- Windinmyhair), the winningest horse in local racing, Don Enrico plainly showed he carries his father’s genes in his astounding wire-to-wire run that saw him pulling away in the stretch to win by over ten lengths.

Esguerra’s Batangas-based Herma Farms and Stud claimed five of the six breeders’ trophies, save only for the Colt Mile. The awards were accepted by the foreman, studmaster, and other ranch hands - Dante, Ariel, Edwin, Simo, Wendell, and Eddie.

Last Saturday, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Diamond Anniversary races were graced by PCSO chairman Sergio Valencia himself, who witnessed Australian import Fond Embrace (Belong To Me - Custodial) win the PCSO 75^th Anniversary race. Owned by Joy Raymundo, trained by Mark Tupas, and steered by Christopher Garganta, the 6YO bay mare came from seventh position in a field of 13 to win by four lengths.

CV Garganta on Fond Embrace enters the winner’s circle.

Grand Homer won the PCSO EZ2 Lotto race; Grey Magic, the 6/45 Lotto race; Action Sailor, the 6/49 Lotto race; while Angel Dugo overcame in the STL race and Phil’s Game in the Traditional Sweepstakes race.

With the success of the PCSO Diamond races, chairman Valencia and the PCSO Committee on Races chaired by Atty. Jose Malang are considering staging the event again next year, billing it as the “Anniversary Racing Festival”. This will bring to three the annual PCSO events, along with the First Spouse Silver Cup and the Presidential Gold Cup (this year’s edition will run on Sunday, December 6, at San Lazaro Leisure Park).  ***

 THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  25 November 2009, Wednesday

 MARHO and PCSO Powerhouse Races

For perhaps the first time ever in the history of the sport in the Philippines, two entities that support horseracing combine forces to deliver a power-packed weekend of ultra-hot galloping action that will have racegoers screaming in their seats.

The Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office are both celebrating landmark occasions this year - the MARHO, their 35^th -(Jade) anniversary; PCSO, their 75^th  (Diamond).  Together, the luster of these precious gems, the symbols of MARHO and PCSO for this year, will sparkle together in twin coruscations that will adorn the history of the sport.

MARHO’s Jade Breeders’ Cup raceweek is set from November 24 to 29 at the Philippine Racing Club’s New Santa Ana Park racecourse in Naic, Cavite.

Despite economic difficulties, “MARHO has forged ahead with its commitment to its members and the thoroughbred community in general to stage what is still the most prestigious horseracing festival on the calendar,” said MARHO president Mandaluyong mayor Benhur Abalos.

 The MBC program, the brainchild of MARHO’s then-president Aristeo Puyat and chairman Sandy Javier, began in 1996 as an incentive for local thoroughbred owners and breeders to improve the quality of their racehorses.

“The program’s aim was to bring racing and breeding closer to international standards,” said Javier, still current MARHO chair. “Its objectives were to provide incentives for local breeders to improve bloodstock in the country, and for racehorse owners to bring up their runners to championship standards.”

Sunday, November 29, will see the 14^th running of the six traditional MBC championships  - MBC Sprint (1,000 meters), Philracom-MBC Juvenile Fillies and Philracom-MBC Juvenile Colts (both 1,300 meters), MBC Filly Mile and Santa Ana Park Colt Mile (both 1,600 meters), and the San Miguel Beer-MBC Classic (2,000 meters).

Abalos thanked the event sponsors - MARHO founder and San Miguel Corporation chairman Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr., who has supported the program since its inception; the Philippine Racing Commission under chairman Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II and commissioners; and the Philippine Racing Club, whose Santa Ana Park is MARHO’s home track. The other sponsors are the Ciara Marie Abalos Foundation, Hygain Feeds, and Easifeeds.

 The PCSO’s Diamond Anniversary activities for racing include the second wave of PCSO Diamond Races on November 28, Saturday, also at New Santa Ana Park.

 These include the PCSO Games Races named for its products - the EZ2 Lotto Race, 6/45 Megalotto Race, 6/49 Superlotto Race, Small-Town Lottery Race, and the Traditional Sweepstakes Race.

The day’s highlight is the once-in-a-lifetime 1,800-meter PCSO 75^th Anniversary Race - the Diamond Cup. Thirteen imports and island-born horses will vie against each other for the top prize of P600,000.00, from a total purse for first to fourth of one million pesos.

“The PCSO Diamond Anniversary Racing Festival,” said PCSO chairman Sergio O. Valencia, “is a historic event that celebrates the ties between the agency and the sport of horseracing.” PCSO vice-chair and general manager Rosario C. Uriarte thanked the members of the racing industry and sports fans “who have strongly supported the cause of charity in various ways throughout the years.”

This is one speed-filled, action-crammed racing weekend that a true sportsman should not miss!   ***

 THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  18 November 2009, Wednesday

 MARHO Jade Championships

The mother of all horseracing events is set to unfold once more at the Philippine Racing Club’s New Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite - a spectacular speed-and-endurance fest that racing fans look forward to every November.

The Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners’ Jade Breeders’ Cup championship races, set for November 24 to 29 and coinciding with the group’s 35^th anniversary celebration, will provide horseracing fans the heart-pumping action that they have come to expect from the quality runners that compete in this elite stakes event.

Open only to locally-bred horses, the program, as conceived fourteen years ago by MARHO pillars Leonardo Javier Jr. (chairman) and Aristeo Puyat (president emeritus), has the long-term goal of raising horseracing to international standards in part by providing financial incentives and peer recognition to encourage horseowners and breeders to produce Philippine-bred champions.

The program has been sustained through the the loyal and generous support of partners such as San Miguel Corporation and its chairman and CEO, MARHO founder Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.; the Philippine Racing Commission; Philippine Racing Club (home track of MARHO), and others. It has been and still is the richest festival of its kind on the racing calendar.

Six championship races will be run on Sunday, November 29, with the following participants and prizes (total from first to fourth places):

San Miguel Beer-MBC Classic, P1.8 million: 2,000 meters, all to carry 57 kgs: Oliver Gianan’s Sword O’War (jockey John Alvin Guce), Joseph Dyhengco’s Ididitmyway (Louie Balboa), Lorraine Uy Wi’s Don Enrico (Fernando Raquel Jr.), Tony Tan’s Shining Fame (Jesse Guce), Nery Sunga’s Es Twenty Six (Antonio Alcasid Jr.), Napoleon Chua’s Gypsy Grey (Patricio Dilema), Herminio Esguerra’s Scud Missile (Rodeo Fernandez), and Elias Chua’s Tigerwould (Michael Yap).

Santa Ana Park -MBC Colt Mile, P900,000: 1,600 meters, all 56 kgs: Dennis Pineda’s Creation (Jesse Guce), Dyhengco’s Boni’s Gem (Christopher Tamano), Benhur Abalos’s Lakay (Dominador Borbe Jr.) and Schadow Strafze (Kelvin Abobo), Manny Santos’s Oh Wacky (John Alvin Guce), Antonio Coyco’s True Value (Raquel), Nel Velasco’s Dream Supreme (John Cordero), Rita Pilapil’s Lively Dude (Mark Alvarez).

MBC Filly Mile, P900,000: 1,600 meters, all 54 kgs: Esguerra’s Nuclear Power (Raquel) and Blue Ocean (Jesse Guce), Jose Mari Franco’s Sutter Dee Night (John Paul Guce), and Pilapil’s Heaven Sent (Fernandez).

Philracom Juvenile Colts, P900,000: 1,300 meters, all 54 kgs: Francis Lim’s Yes Pogi (Raquel), Wilbert Tan’s Thoti’s Best (Borbe), Armando Sanchez’s Real Winner (John Alvin Guce) and Pinakamagaling (John Paul Guce), Esguerra’s Carriedo (Jesse Guce) and Gastambide (Fernandez), and Herma Farms’s Lealtad (Cordero).

Philracom Juvenile Fillies, P900,000: 1,300 meters, all 54 kgs: Santa Clara Stock Farms’s Blonde Ambition (Virgilio Camañero Jr.), Abalos’s Redemption (Jesse Guce), Tony Tan’s Elusive Cat (Abobo), Wilbert Tan’s Perfect Material (Karvin Malapira), Robert Yutadco’s Speed Spell (Raquel), Sanchez’s Tiger Moon (John Paul Guce), Esguerra’s Morayta (Cordero) and Andalucia (Fernandez), Tony de Ubago’s Flying Wid You (Alcasid), Patrick Uy’s Moscow Vallet (Alvarez), and Rona Yanagisawa’s Woodsy Ribbon (Borbe).

MBC Sprint, P400,000: 1,000 meters: Lamberto Almeda Jr.’s Minsk City (Abobo, 55 kgs), Napoleon Chua’s Million Dollar (Alvarez, 57 kgs), Sanchez’s Sutter’s Royal (Dilema, 55 kgs), Moises Villaseñor’s Tiger Song (Fernandez, 55 kgs), Esguerra’s Eternal Flame (Jesse Guce, 55 kgs), and Cezar Castro’s EJ’s Magic (Raquel, 57 kgs).

There are also Breeders’ Purses of P100,000 plus custom commemorative winners’ trophies made in England from crystal and silverplate.

 November 28, Saturday, will showcase the second wave of PCSO Diamond Anniversary Races - the EZ2 Lotto Race, 6/45 Megalotto Race, 6/49 Superlotto Race, Small-Town Lottery Race, and the Traditional Sweepstakes Race, with the highlight event the PCSO 75^th Anniversary Race - the Diamond Cup - a unique event that will certainly be memorable as it will never be repeated. A tough 1,800 meter challenge, it pits thirteen imports and island-born horses against each other for the top prize of P600,000.00. Total prizes from first to fourth places total a glittering one million pesos.

Alexandrina, Antiress, Batang Tundo, Fierce Fighter, Fond Embrace, Holy Ridge, Lim Expensive Toys, Miss Elliott, Mooney Money, Multiply, My Hope, Tiwi Magic, and Ziraz are the entries in this special event.   ***