November 2008

KARERA LANG!  By Jenny Ortuoste for Tumbok,  27 November 2008, Thursday

Malaking Karera, Lalarga Na!

Bagamat tapos na ang matagumpay na MARHO Breeders’ Cup championships racing festival, marami pang mga malalaking karera ang magpapasaya sa Bayang Karerista sa mga darating na linggo.

Kasama na rito ang National Press Club race sa Dec. 5, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Presidential Gold Cup sa Dec. 7, at Philtobo Mitra Cup racing festival sa Dec. 21, lahat sa Santa Ana Park.

Sa San Lazaro Leisure Park naman gaganapin ang Philippine Racing Commission Juvenile Championship. Binago ang distansiya nito. Mula milya o 1600 meters na tradisyonal na haba nito, ginawang 1500 meters nalang ito ng Manila Jockey Club dahil hindi pa raw ayos ang kanilang outer track na siya lamang ang nakaka-accommodate ng milyang distansiya.

May mga nag-react na horseowners dito, dahil dati-rati milya talaga ito, at ito raw kasi ang panahon na ang mga juveniles ay nagbabatak na para sa Triple Crown next year, at naghahanap talaga ang mga trainers at may-ari ng longer distance races.

Pero ano nga naman ang magagawa kung hindi pa ayos ang pista ng SLLP? Mahirap namang ilipat ito ng venue dahil hati sa SLLP at SAP ang mga Philracom stakes races, at sa SLLP naka-schedule ang naturang championship. Naintindihan naman ng mga horseowners ang sitwasyon.

Samantala, ano ang maari nating masaksihang karera sa 2009? Kasama sa mga plano ng industriya ay ang 35th anibersaryo ng MARHO (Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners) at Philracom, na parehong itinayo ni Amb. Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. noong 1974.

Malamang ang MARHO ay magpapakarera ng kanilang Founders’ Cup bukod pa sa Breeders’ Cup. Kung kakayanin at may sponsors, magkakaroon din ng MARHO members’ premium races kada buwan.

Ang Philracom naman ay may tentative stakes races calendar for 2009 kung saan bawat buwan ay may “birthstone” races. Pinag-iisipan rin nilang ibalik ang Grand Derby at iba pang malalaking karera.

May balita rin na baka buhayin ang Gran Copa de Manila races, na naging institusyon na sa Manila Jockey Club noong ito’y nasa Tayuman pa. Ngunit noong lumipat ang MJC sa SLLP, isang beses lang ginanap doon ang Gran Copa. Iminumungkahi ng magkapatid na Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing at Atty. Dondon Bagatsing, mga anak ng yumaong Manila  mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing na isang matibay na taga-suporta ng Gran Copa noong araw, na ibalik ang tradisyon na ito.

Karera lang – walang personalan!   ***

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THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  26 November 2008, Wednesday

MARHO Races a Smash!

“Congratulations on a very successful event!”

Racing fans proclaimed this year’s edition of the MARHO Breeders’ Cup a roaring success by breaking attendance records and spiking sales to heights not seen since the glory days of racing five years ago.

Held at the historic Santa Ana Park racetrack in Makati City from November 18 to 23, the flagship annual event of the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners attracted a great number of participants resulting in a larger field size for many of the races which all had guaranteed and/or bonus prizes.  The superb invitational handicapping system, devised specially for the event, was another crowd-drawer, as the races that were formed were, as one fan put it, “very difficult to analyze.”

Crowds filled the stands at Santa Ana Park on MARHO Breeders’ Cup Sunday.

On Saturday, victories by longshots Mooney Money (Mojave Moon-Monochrome), Weder Weder Lang (Changeintheweather-Offensive Threat), and Kaakit-akit (Brahms-Allowance) resulted in carryovers in both sets of the Winner-Take-All events. There were also carryovers in Race 13′s Super Six, Quartet, and in the Magic Nine events.

MARHO director Manny Santos (in behalf of owner Jan Michael Santos, his son), rider Karvin Malapira, and trainer Mark Tupas receive their trophies for Weder Weder Lang’s surprise win. With them are Philracom commissioner Atty. Vic Tantoco, chairman Atty. Joy Rojas, Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing, and Pedro Sy Gaisano and Crisanta Cayetano of the Manila Red Cross. 

Sunday saw a record-breaking number of spectators crowd the grandstands to watch the championship races. An indicator of high viewership at the off-track betting stations were the gross figures for the exotic betting options. The first WTA set climbed to over P7 million, while the second set raked in P3.3 million, way over the usual P2.2 million average for a Sunday second set WTA.

Outstanding favorite Go Army (Mr. Sutter – J’Approve) did not disappoint in the Philippine Racing Commission-MARHO Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Colts, where he won wire-to-wire by ten lengths over Action Sailor. Owner Hermie Esguerra also received the award for breeder of this talented two-year-old, ridden by Jonathan Hernandez.

Go Army being led into the winner’s circle. Action Sailor is right behind.

In the Philracom-MBC Juvenile Fillies, Heaven Sent (Hezagonewest-Kiss and Run), steered by John Alvin Guce, won handily by six. Owned by Rita Pilapil, the breeder was Jose Mari Franco, a MARHO director.

Heaven Sent with Karvin Malapira at the wire.

It was Shining Fame, third leg Triple Crown winner, in the Santa Ana Park-MBC Colt Mile. Guided by Jesse B. Guce and racing neck-and-neck down the stretch against Don Enrico, the Royal Premiere-Harry’s District colt prevailed by a length to give owner Tony Tan, also a MARHO director, the win. Toti Cariño was the breeder.

Shining Fame wins the MBC Colt Mile!

Lou, Pam, Jacq Yu, owner and MARHO director Tony Tan, MARHO president Mayor Benhur Abalos, jockey Jesse Guce, PRC president Solomon Cua, trainer Ruben Tupas, MARHO executive vice-president Eric Tagle, and Sarah at the awarding ceremony for Shining Fame’s win.

Former MARHO president Aristeo G. Puyat scored in the Andok’s-MBC Filly Mile with his own-bred Blue Arch (Mr. Sutter-Arch), ridden by Brian Yamzon. In the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office-MBC Sprint, it was MBC alum and Herma-bred EJ’s Magic (Self Feeder-Heir Apparent), with apprentice jockey Miles Pilapil on top.

Sandra, Luan, owner-breeder Aristeo Puyat, Jake Maderazo, trainer Gil Pansoy, jockey Brian Yamzon, Cong. Amado Bagatsing, Sarah, and Lou pose at the awarding ceremony for Blue Arch’s win.

It’s EJ’s Magic in the PCSO-MBC Sprint!

In the highlight San Miguel Beer-MBC Classic, four-year-old racemare Es Twenty Six (Principality-Play By Ear), another MBC graduate, fended off the challenges of 2007 PCSO Presidential Gold Cup winner Native Land and four others to win the 2,050-meter race and first place purse of P1.2 million. Owned by Nery Sunga, this stellar performer was bred by MARHO chairman Leonardo “Sandy” Javier Jr.

Es Twenty Six with Jesse Guce on top enters the parade ground.

Katya, Kay, Pam, trainer Dave de la Cruz, owner Nery Sunga, breeder and MARHO chairman Sandy Javier, jockey Jesse Guce, MARHO internal auditor Tony de Ubago, Jacq Yu, Anna, Lou, Kay, MARHO directors Chito Borromeo and Nel Velasco at the awarding ceremony for the win of Es Twenty Six.

The Philracom Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup saw island-born horse Ibarra (Yonaguska-Fire Down Under) almost smash the 2:09 record for the 2,050 meters with a time of 2:09.6, winning wire-to-wire by three lengths. Jockey Kelvin Abobo gave his mighty mount only a couple light flicks of the whip down the stretch, securing the win for owner Mandaluyong Mayor lawyer Benhur C. Abalos, MARHO president.

It’s Ibarra across the wire first in the 2008 Philracom ECJ Cup!

MARHO chairman Sandy Javier, MARHO executive vice-president Eric Tagle, MARHO member Enrique “Henry” M. Cojuangco representing his brother Amb. Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr., trainer Ruben Tupas, owner MARHO president Mayor Benhur Abalos, jockey Kelvin Abobo, Philracom chairman lawyer Joy Rojas, PRC president Solomon Cua, Philracom commissioner lawyer Vic Tantoco, and PRC executive vice-president lawyer Ramon P. Ereñeta Jr. at the awarding ceremony for Ibarra’s win.

Other trophy races were also held that day, adding to the event’s excitement.

Sunday sales reached P43.8 million, surpassing the P41.6 million sales for the previous year. Said Javier, “For our 35^th anniversary next year, MARHO plans more races and activities.”  Abalos thanked participants, fellow directors and members, the host venue Philippine Racing Club, and racing fans. “We are grateful for the support everyone has shown MARHO, which contributed to making this event a success.”   *** (Web: http://jennyo.net)

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KARERA LANG!  By Jenny Ortuoste for Tumbok,  25 November 2008, Tuesday

MARHO Week, Matagumpay!

Pagkaraan ng higit tatlong buwang paghahanda, nairaos ng matagumpay ang ika-treseng pagtatanghal ng MARHO Breeders’ Cup Championship Races sa Santa Ana Park, Makati City, noong Linggo.

Isang buong linggong pakarera – Martes hanggang Linggo -ang pinang-sorpresa ng Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners (MARHO) sa mga miyembro nito at sa mga racing fans. Pinag-isipan ng mabuti ng handicapping team ang mga karera, hindi lamang sa lineup, o mga kalahok, kundi pati ang paglatag, o ang pagsunod-sunod ng mga karera sa programa.

Patok ang performance ni Go Army sa Philippine Racing Commission-MARHO Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Colts race. Halos nakapigil lang si jockey Jonathan Hernandez sa ibabaw ng pinakamagaling na 2YO colt sa kasalukuyang season. Banderang tapos itong nanalo. Tuwang-tuwa siyempre si Hermie Esguerra dahil nakopo niya ang parehong tropeo para sa owner at breeder.

Sa Philracom-MBC Juvenile Fillies, banderang tapos ang paboritong Heaven Sent, bred by MARHO director Jose Mari Franco. Sa Santa Ana Park-MBC Colt Mile, bakbakang matindi ang naganap kina Shining Fame at Don Enric ngunit nanaig pa rin ang 3rd leg Triple Crown winner na si Shining Fame.

John Alvin Guce dismounts from Heaven Sent after winning the Philracom-MBC Juvenile Fillies championship.

Si Blue Arch ang nanalo sa Andok’s-MBC Filly Mile,  owned and bred by former MARHO president Aristeo “Putch” Puyat. Si EJ’s Magic, owned by Vangie Jose and bred by Herma Stud ang nanalo sa PCSO-MBC Sprint, at si Es Twenty Six naman, owned by Nery Sunga and bred by Sandy Javier sa San Miguel-MBC Classic.

Sa Philracom Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup, nilampaso ng island-born na si Ibarra ang  mga kalaban, at nagpanhik ng first prize na P1.2 million sa kanyang may-ari, MARHO president and Mandaluyong City mayor Benhur C. Abalos. Ang nag-abot sa kanya ng tropeo ay si Enrique “Henry” M. Cojuangco, kapatid ni Amb. Cojuangco.

Overall, naging successful ang event. Ang gross sales para sa araw ng Linggo ay P43.8 million – nahigitan ang 2007 sales na P41.6 million. Ang gate attendance ay record-breaking din.

Ngayon lang din nangyari na nag-carryover mula noong Sabado ang parehong Winner-Take-All sets to Sunday. Kaya ang first WTA noong Sunday ay umabot ng P7.3 million. Mataas rin ang WTA second set, na nag-gross ng P3.3 million, samantalang ang average ay nasa P2.2 million lang.

Naging espesyal ang okasyon dahil sa pagdalo ng ABS-CBN talent na si Jacq Yu, na gumaganap sa palabas na “Pieta”. Siya rin ay cover girl ng November issue ng FHM magazine.

Jacq Yu, Pam Perlas, Sarah Polverini

Ayon kay MARHO chairman Leonardo “Sandy” M. Javier Jr., mas maraming activities ang planado ng MARHO para sa 2009, ang ika-35 anibersaryo ng organisasyon. “Maaring magkaroon ng  monthly races ang MARHO,” aniya, “at may iba pa kaming sorpresa para sa mga racing fans na pinaplano na namin ngayon.” Nagpasalamat din siya sa bayang karerista sa kanilang suporta.

Ganoon din ang pahayag ni MARHO president Benhur Abalos. “Salamat lahat ng sumuporta ng MARHO Breeders’ Cup, ” aniya. “Dahil sa pagtangkilik ninyo, naging matagumpay ang event.”

Binanggit rin ni Mayor Abalos ang papalapit ng paglipat ng Philippine Racing Club sa bagong pista nito sa Trece Martirez, Cavite. “Historic occasion ito kung saan naging bahagi ang MARHO sa mga huling araw ng PRC sa makasaysayang pista na mula 1937 pa.”

Abangan ang mga pakulo at pakarera ng MARHO sa darating na taon. Karera lang po!   ***

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Rains couldn’t spoil the Saturday card for the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners (MARHO) Breeders’ Cup at Santa Ana Park. Despite the showers that prevented the awarding ceremonies from being held on the open-air stage, the day was a huge success with racing fans, scoring over P32 million in gross sales for the day and week-to-date sales of P125.7 million.

The superb handicapping resulted in upsets by several longshots. In the 1600-meter Race 4, US import Mooney Money (Mojave Moon-Monochrome) rallied from the back of the eight-horse field, hugging the rail to save ground at the far turn, then swinging out four wide at the stretch to nip leader Street Song at the wire by 3/4 length.

It’s Mooney Money on the outside, Street Song on the inside…

The surprise win by former Batangas governor Armando C. Sanchez’s 2YO bay filly in the Philippine Racing Commission-MARHO Breeders’ Cup Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing race for the benefit of the Sto. Nino deTondo Parish caused a P1 million carryover in the first Winner-Take-All event.

In Race 7, another US import, Weder Weder Lang (Changeintheweather-Offensive Threat) came from behind, outlasting frontrunner Miss Elliott to give the Manny Santos racing stable a win in the mile Philracom-MBC Cong. Amado Bagatsing Race for the benefit of the Manila Red Cross.

But the most exciting finish was saved for last. In Race 13, Kaakit Akit (Brahms-Allowance), stunned all with a victory in the mile San Miguel Beer Light-MBC Invitational. David Lee’s island-born mare was ridden by rising star apprentice LC Lunar.

 Jaws dropped even further with the P1.1 million carryover of the second WTA set. There were also carryovers in the Quartet, Super Six, and Magic Nine events.

Sunday promises to be even more spectacular, with all 13 races on the card being trophy and championship races.   In a move guaranteed to keep aficionados glued to their seats, the highlight San Miguel Beer-MBC Classic has been scheduled for last. ***

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KARERA LANG!  By Jenny Ortuoste for Tumbok,  21 November 2008, Friday

Weekend ng MARHO, Maaksiyon!

Dadanak ang pawis at bubuhos ang aksiyon sa Sabado at Linggo sa Santa Ana Park, Makati City, para sa makasaysayang pagtatanghal ng ika-13 MARHO Breeders’ Cup championships.

Makasaysayan ito dahil ngayon lamang nasiksikan ng ganito karaming stakes at special races ang kahit na anong racing festival kahit kailan.

Sa Sabado, siyam ang trophy at special races. Sa Linggo, ang buong card ng trese karera ay puro stakes at trophy races din.

Ang pinaka-highlight ng MARHO Breeders’ Cup ay ang anim na championships nito, na bukas lamang sa mga kabayong “born and bred” sa Pilipinas. Kaya hindi maaring sumali ang island born at imports.

Heto na ang final lineup para sa MBC championships. Sa Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office-MBC Sprint (900 meters) – One Man’s Soul (jockey DH Borbe Jr., 57kg), Tiger Song (LI Santos, 55), Minsk City (JB Hernandez, 55),  EJ’s Magic (MV Pilapil, 57), Million Dollar (FM Raquel Jr., 57).

Philracom-MBC Juvenile Fillies (1500 meters) – Heaven Sent (JA Guce, 54), Eternal Flame (PR Dileman, 54), Sin Nombre (EG Reyes, 54), Rhea’s Gold (AM Tancioco, 54), Sutter Dee Night (JP A Guce, 54), Lady Sutter (VR Dilema, 54), Bonjour (LB Guce, 54).

Philracom-MBC Juvenile Colts (1500 meters) – True Value (JA Guce, 54), Go Army (JB Hernandez, 54), Mastermind (PR Dilema, 54), Action Sailor (JB Guce, 54), Chief of Staff (MF Daquis, 54).

Andok’s-MBC Filly Mile (1600 meters) – Speed Madonna (JB Hernandez, 54), Victorian Stones (PR Dilema, 54), Vergara (DH Borbe Jr., 54), Lady Lorelle (KE Malapira, 54), Love Story (FM Raquel Jr., 54), Blue Arch (BM Yamzon, 54).

Santa Ana Park – MBC Colt Mile (1600 meters) – Tabako (PR Dilema, 56), Shining Fame (JB Guce, 56), Royal Fair (KB Abobo, 56), Don Enrico (JA Guce, 56).

San Miguel Beer-MBC Classic (2050 meters) – Music King (FM Raquel Jr., 57), Native Land (PR Dilema, 57), El Terrible (JB Hernandez, 57), Ididitmyway (VR Dilema, 57), Es Twenty Six (JB Guce, 55), Treasured Ack (JB Cordero, 55).

Puro local ang mga ito, dahil iyon naman ang layunin ng MBC – ang palaguin sa Pilipinas ang breeding ng kalidad na thoroughbred. Kaya ang tema ng MBC para sa 2008 ay “Raising and Racing Philippine Champions”.

Kaya ang MBC ay hindi lamang higanteng pakarera hitik sa aksiyon – ito rin ay selebrasyon ng pagiging Pilipino, at ng kakayahan nating mag-breed at mag-develop ng mga kampeong kabayo na maaring ilaban kahit saan man sa mundo.

Sa katunayan, kung mapapansin ninyo ang event logo ng 2008 MARHO Breeders’ Cup, ang kulay na ginamit rito ay dilaw, puti, bughaw, at pula – kulay ng watawat ng Pilipinas. Sinadya po ito, upang maipabatid sa lahat, na dapat ipagmalaki ang kabayong Pilipino. ***

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KARERA LANG!  By Jenny Ortuoste for Tumbok,  20 November 2008, Thursday

Unang Araw ng MARHO, Patok!

Maganda ang feedback mula sa mga karerista tungkol sa unang araw ng Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners (MARHO) Breeders’ Cup championship raceweek noong Martes sa Santa Ana Park.

Exciting daw ang lineup, anila. “Puro ‘anybody’s race’ at maraming dehado ang nagsulputan,” ang kumento ng isa.”Kaya naging higit P113,000 ang dibidendo sa Winner-Take-All.”  

Mas mataas rin ang gross sales nitong Martes kumpara sa pangkaraniwang raceday. Ang Winner-Take-All ay inabot ng P4 million at may daily double event na humigit P900,000. Ito’y magandang buena-mano para sa taunang pakarera ng MARHO.

Bakit naging enthusiastic ang Bayang Karerista sa pananaya sa unang araw ng MARHO Week? Ayon sa karamihan, dahil sa magandang handicapping  at sa laki ng mga premyo. Sa class-division, may added P5,000 bonus to the winner if MARHO member in good standing. Mayroon pang MARHO Special Invitational na may guaranteed P140,000 plus bonus of P20,000 to winning MARHO member, P10,000 to non-members. Kaya maraming horseowners ang sumali, at bumondat ang field size.

Nagpapasalamat ang MARHO sa handicapping team nito, sa ilalim ng supervision ni MARHO vice-president for racing Butch Mamon. Kasama  dito sina Eric Borja, Julius “Yoyot” Fecayo, at Jay Watan (taga-type); racing manager Dan Valmonte and Allan Aglipay of Philippine Racing Club; at Bitoy Lansangan at Charlie Adao ng Philippine Racing Commission, na sumeguro na sinusundan ng MARHO ang lahat ng racing rules at regulations.

Malaki rin ang pasalamat ng MARHO kay Philracom chairman Atty. Jose Ferdinand “Joy” M. Rojas II sa kanyang suporta sa MARHO Breeders’ Cup event.

Sa Sabado at Linggo ibubuhos ang mga trophy races. As of now, mayroong sampu sa Sabado. Mula sa MARHO, pito – Good Provision,Transprint Corp., Philtown Properties Inc., at Esicor Inc. Trophy Races at ang Peter Morrison at George Stribling Tribute Races. Mula sa Philracom, tatlong Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing Stakes – dalawang for the benefit of the Manila Red Cross, at isang for the benefit of Sto. Nino de Tondo Parish.

Sa Linggo, ang lahat ng karera -trese – ay Trophy Race, Championship, o sponsored stakes races. Bukod sa anim na MARHO Breeders’ Cup championships,mayroon pang Ciara Marie Abalos, Milestone Paper Products Inc., Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing, Juggernaut, at SMART Sports Tipsters Trophy Races. Mayroon pang Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Special Maiden Race at Philracom Amb. Eduardo M.Cojuangco Jr. Cup.

‘Yan ang pakarera!   ***

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THE HOARSE WHISPERER  By Jenny Ortuoste for Manila Standard-Today,  19 November 2008, Wednesday

MARHO Races This Weekend

When it rains, it pours.

It’s a hoary old adage, but it’s certainly been proven true at least on this occasion, the 13^th running of the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners Breeders’ Cup racing festival, set for 18 to 23 November at Santa Ana Park in Makati City.

The final version of the event logo that went on TVCs, tarps, and t-shirts.

Its highlights are six championship races – the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office-MBC Sprint (900 meters), Philippine Racing Commission-MBC Juvenile Colts and Juvenile Fillies (both for two-year-olds at 1,500 meters), the Santa Ana Park-MBC Colt Mile and Andok’s Filly Mile (for three-year-olds at 1,600 meters), and the main event, the San Miguel Beer-MBC Classic, pegged at an arduous 2,050 meters, the longest distance for horseracing in the country today.

A varied cast of entries gathered to contend for a total of over P7 million in prizes – and that’s just for the six championships. The entire slate of races for the raceweek at Santa Ana Park have either guaranteed prizes and/or bonus prizes to winners, both MARHO members and non-members, though members get extra and double bonuses as one of their membership perks.

In addition to the major supporters of the event, other sponsors stepped up to provide bonus prizes for trophy races – the Ciara Marie Abalos Foundation, Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing, Milestone Paper Products Inc., Esicor Inc., Transprint Corporation, Juggernaut racing stable, Good Provision racing stable, SMART Communications (for their “Karera Info Text” initiative), and Philtown Properties Inc.

The Ciara Marie Foundation, established by Mandaluyong mayor and MARHO president Benhur Abalos in memory of his late daughter, assists underprivileged sectors with health care and medical missions.

However, as game show hosts are wont to say – “But that’s not all!” This year, the MARHO Breeders’ Cup racing festival features two tribute races to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions not only to MARHO but to the Philippine horseracing industry in general – horseman-educator George Young Stribling and racecaller Peter Morrison.

The Kentucky-born Stribling had a colorful career as a racehorse trainer and horseowner before moving to Manila in the 1980s. On the strength of his experiences, he became the director of the Philippine Jockeys’ Academy and acted as a consultant to the industry on racing matters. He is credited with having introduced the American style of flat-race riding, wherein the jockey crouches as low as he can on the back of the horse to minimize wind resistance. This is in marked contrast to the upright and bouncy European style of race riding.

George Y. Stribling (front, right) at his 90th birthday celebration last 9 March 2007. With him are MARHO past president and MBC founder Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, and graduates of the PJA.

Morrison, a native of Western Australia, is an international racecaller and has visited Manila almost every year since he first came, also in the ‘80s, upon invitation of the late Manila Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing. Morrison has called the most prestigious races in the country, such as the Gran Copa de Manila, Triple Crown, and MARHO Breeders’ Cup events.

Peter Morrison getting ready to call a race at the 2007 MARHO Breeders’ Cup event at Santa Ana Park.

And if those races aren’t enough to whet one’s appetite for speed and endurance, Philracom and PCSO have piled on more sponsored races to make this year’s MARHO Breeders’ Cup week truly unforgettable.

Philracom weighs in with the Amb. Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup, in honor of San Miguel Corporation’s chairman and CEO, who also happens to be the founder of both MARHO and Philracom, way back in 1974. (Both organizations will celebrate their 35^th anniversaries next year.) This race is like the MBC Classic as to distance and prize money, save that imported and island-born runners are eligible, unlike the MBC championships which are open only to local-breds.

There will also be three Philracom-sponsored Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing stakes charity races, two for the benefit of the Manila Red Cross and one for the Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish.

Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing shakes the hand of Philracom chairman Atty. Joy Rojas at a charity race at Santa Ana Park last September 27.

PCSO will showcase a Special Maiden Race for juveniles.

With this downpour of horseracing action, MARHO’s theme for this year, “Raising and Racing Philippine Champions” is particularly apt. Come watch the races, and don’t forget to bring an umbrella.   ***

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KARERA LANG!  By Jenny Ortuoste for Tumbok,  18 November 2008, Tuesday

MARHO Breeders’ Cup, Patok na Pakarera!

Simula na ngayong araw ang MARHO Breeders’ Cup Championship raceweek sa Santa Ana Park, na inaabangan ng mga karerista taun-taon dahil ito ang pinaka-malaking racing festival sa kalendaryo.

Mula Martes, Nob. 18, hanggang Linggo, Nob. 23, ang racing festival na ito na inumpisahan ng Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners noong 1996 pa. Ang layunin ng pakakerang ito ay ang itaguyod at palaguhin hindi lamang ang racing kundi ang breeding ng thoroughbred horses sa Pilipinas.

Talagang binuhusan ng suporta ng MARHO ang mga karera sa linggong ito. Lahat ng class-division races ay may bonus prize na P5,000 kung ang winner ay MARHO member in good standing. Mayroon ding mga races na may guaranteed prizes, at iba pa na may added prizes.

Marami rin ang mga pumasok na sponsors para sa trophy races. Ang mga ito ay ang Ciara Maria Abalos TR, Milestone Paper Products Inc. TR, ESICOR Inc. TR, Transprint Corp. TR, Good Provision TR, Juggernaut TR, Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing TR, SMART Sports Tipsters TR, at Philtown TR. Ang lahat na ito ay may added prize na P50,000 allocated from first to third places if the winners and placers are MARHO members.

Bukod dito, may dalawang tribute races, in honor of George Y. Stribling and Peter Morrison.

Si Mr. Stribling ang nagtayo ng Philippine Jockeys’ Academy noong mid-‘80s at sa ilalim ng kanyang pagtuturo umuso  sa ating mga hinete ang American riding style kung saan halos di gumagalaw ang hinete sa ibabaw ng kabayo at dapang-dapa siya sa likod to minimize wind resistance. Noong araw, masasabing European-style riding ang ginagamit, kung saan magalaw ang hinete.

Si Mr. Morrison naman ay ang batikang Australyanong racecaller na pabalik-balik sa Pilipinas ng mga 20 taon na upang tumawag ng mga pinakamalaking taunang pakarera, tulad ng Gran Copa de Manila, Triple Crown, MARHO Breeders’ Cup, at iba pa.

Ang highlight ng 2008 MARHO Breeders’ Cup ay ang anim na championship races sa Linggo – Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office-MBC Sprint, Philracom-MBC Juvenile Fillies, Philracom-MBC Juvenile Colts, Andok’s-MBC Filly Mile, Santa Ana Park-MBC Colt Mile, at San Miguel Beer-MBC Classic.

At kung hindi pa hitik ng aksiyon ang mga karerang iyon, mayroon pang Philracom Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup at ang PCSO Special Maiden Race!

Ngunit hindi lang iyon! Naabisuhan tayo just before presstime na may karagdagang Philracom-sponsored charity races – tatlong Cong. Amado S. Bagatsing races. Ang dalawa ay for the benefit of the Manila Red Cross, at ang isa naman ay para sa Sto. Niño Parish of Tondo. Bale mga stakes races na ang tatlong ito, dahil ang premyo ay P300,000 for each race, allocated from first to fourth places.

Tara na po at panoorin ang pinaka-exciting na pakarera sa mundo ng racing!   ***

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KARERA LANG!  By Jenny Ortuoste for Tumbok,  14 November 2008, Friday

Decline in Sales, Patuloy!

Patuloy pa rin ang pagbaba ng benta sa horseracing. Ang horseowner’s gross prize for first place sa Santa Ana Park nitong nakaraang raceweek ay nasa P130,000 average, mula sa mga P140,000 noon. Sa San Lazaro Leisure Park naman, nasa P126,000 average mula P130,000 mahigit noon.

Hindi lamang ang mga horseowners ang dismayado sa pangyayaring ito kundi rin ang mga trainers, jockeys, at mga sota na kumukuha ng porsiyento sa premyo.  

Noong 2007, ang gross handle para sa taong iyon ay higit P8.88 billion. Kung magpapatuloy ang padausdos ng benta, malamang na ang annual sales ng karera ay di aabot sa dating mga kinikita nito.

Ngunit ito ay kaganapan hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas kundi sa ibang racing nations, dulot na rin ng krisis pang-ekonomiya at ang global recession. Ang racing at breeding industries mga mayayamang bansa tulad ng Estados Unidos ay lubhang naapektuhan.

Halimbawa: sa ginaganap na thoroughbred sales sa Keeneland, Kentucky, ngayong Nob. 3-17, as of Day 10 bagsak ang benta ng 46.4% kumpara sa parehong period noong 2007.

Sa Churchill Downs racecourse sa Kentucky rin, binawasan ng management ng 10% ang “overnight purses” at binawasan rin ang premyo sa ilang mga stakes races nila. Napilitan raw silang gawin ang hakbang na ito dahil na rin sa “soft economy”, ayon kay Churchill Downs Inc. senior vice-president Kevin Flanery sa isang pahayag. Ang krisis sa ekonomiya, aniya, ay nakapagpababa ng benta sa takilya at sa mga premyo hindi lang sa kanila kundi sa iba pang karerahan sa Amerika.

Bagsak rin ang benta sa Belmont Park sa New York, venue ng third leg ng US Triple Crown. May 8.3% decline sa betting handle ng 37-day Fall Meeting itong 2008 kumpara sa 2007. “Economic downturn” raw ang rason nito, na nakaapekto rin sa attendance, na bumaba ng 10.6% para sa naturang Fall Meeting. Sa average daily purses o premyo, may naitalang decline na 7.7%.

Mula Enero hanggang Oktubre, bagsak ng halos 6% overall ang benta sa mga karerahan sa US at Canada, ayon sa Equibase, na nagko-compile ng mga racing economic statistics. Sa buwan ng Oktubre nalang, 6.94% ang ibinaba ng betting turnover.

Ang pagbaba ng benta ay hindi lang dito sa atin. Kaya naapektuhan ang sales ng Philippine racing ay gawa ng negatibong klima sa ekonomiya sa buong mundo. Sabi kasi ng iba, baka raw handicapping, o number of OTB’s, o number of betting machines, o quality ng broadcast ang dahilan.

Sa totoo lang, factor lahat iyan na hindi dapat isnabin. Ngunit alalahanin rin na bagsak talaga ang  benta ng karera sa buong mundo. Kung tutuusin, suwerte pa nga tayo dito sa Pilipinas dahil hindi tayo ganoon ka-apektado. Kahit papaano, mas nasa mabuting kalagayan pa rin ang ating racing.

At tulad ng dati, kapag panahon ng krisis, isa lang ang kailangang gawin – ride out the storm. Titila rin ang bagyo, at lalabas muli ang araw.    ***

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