The biggest club-organized racing extravaganza unfolds on Sunday, with the running of the 2018 Pasay “The Travel City” Racing Festival at the MetroTurf Racing Complex in Malvar, Batangas.
Now on its fifth edition, the whole-day long event promises bigger prizes and exciting racing action in the four major races and eight tough trophy races readied by the Metro Manila Turf Club.
Six tested local and imported gallopers will see action in the 5th Pasay “The Travel City” Cup, which has a total prize of P700,000 to the first four finishers with the winner receiving the top purse of P420,000.
The official runners in the 1,600-meter centerpiece race are Secret Affair (CS Pare, 51); Shoo In (CP Henson, 51); Truly Ponti (OP Cortez, 54); Tin Drum (RG Fernandez, 56); Anino (DH Borbe Jr, 51); and Eugene Onegin (PR Dilema, 52).
Another P700,000 is at stake in the 5th Pasay Mayor Tony Calixto Cup that will be disputed by nine exciting gallopers namely: Dugong Bughaw (OP Cortez, 54); When The Wolf Bite (BZ Llarenas, 52); Twin Oak (JA A Guce, 52); My Jopay (JB Hernandez, 52); Barayong (KB Abobo, 54); I Feel Good (RM Garcia, 54); Full of Grace (CP Henson, 52); Oktubre Katorse (VM Caminero Jr, 54); and Morning Girl (RO Niu Jr, 52). Race distance is 1,400 meters.
The 4th Former Pasay OIC Mayor Eduardo “Duay” Calixto Cup, meanwhile, will be contested over the distance of 1,600 meters and co-sponsored by Pagcor. A total of P500,000 is at stake here and the challengers are Helushka (RM Garcia, 52); Filipino Emperor (OP Cortez, 54); Happy Maggie (JB Guce, 52); Garantisado (JB Hernandez, 54); Certain To Win (JP A Guce, 52); Disyembreasais (JB Cordova, 54); Senor Lucas (Dan Caminero, 54); Princess Eowyn (PR Dilema, 52); Marino ng Tanglaw (DH Borbe Jr, 54); Gentleman Jim (FM Raquel Jr, 54); and The Barrister (KB Abobo, 54).
Owners, trainers and jockeys of the winning horse in these three major races will also be given a trophy each.
Eight other Trophy Races with an added P30,000 prize and trophy to the winning owner spice up the excitement at the racetrack, including the Philracom Grand Championship that has a total of P1 million at stake featuring six fast-stepping challengers.
Pasay Mayor Calixto said the support of the various sectors of the industry only goes to show that the Pasay “The Travel City” Racing Festival is now an annual major racing spectacle that is being awaited by the racing industry players.
“Inaanyayahan po namin kayong samahan kami at panoorin itong ating pakarera na ngayon ay nasa ikalimang edisyon na. Nagpapasalamat din po tayo sa lahat ng ating mga sponsors at sa lahat ng tumulong para ito ay maging successful,” sabi ni Mayor Calixto.
Meanwhile, lots of appliances and Christmas grocery items will be raffled off every race.
The groom of all the winning horses will also be given one 25-kg sack of rice apiece.