The Philippine Racing Commission acted favorably on the letter of protest by horseowner Leonardo “Sandy” Javier as the commission resolved the issues relative to the decision of the Board of Stewards on the incidents involving horses “Boss Emong”, “Sky Shot”, and “Super Swerte” during the 2021 PHILRACOM-PCSO Presidential Gold Cup at the Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc. last December 12, 2021.
The PHILRACOM decision stemmed from a letter sent by Super Swerte owner Javier on Monday last week to the commission, protesting the result of the said Gold Cup race, won by Sky Shot.
Javier accused Boss Emong jockey FM Racquel Jr. of “foul riding”, thereby obstructing the path of Super Swerte heading into the final stretch and allowing Sky Shot to win the 2,000-meter race and the P6-million top purse.
Sky Shot and Boss Emong are coupled entries of owner Edward Vincent Diokno.
After viewing the race footage, the board of stewards of the Metro Turf swiftly acted and penalized Racquel Jr. with a 156-day suspension, which the jockey appealed.
“The Board finds the appeal of Jockey Fernando M. Raquel, Jr. without merit and hereby denies the same. Consequently, the decision of the MMTCI-BOS suspending Raquel for a period of one hundred 156 days is hereby affirmed,” the resolution stated.
The board also declared Sky Shot as disqualified pursuant to PR 56.A and PR 78.B.1. Consequently, it was relegated to the third spot behind Super Swerte, with the final placing of horses for the Gold Cup being Nuclear Bomb, Super Swerte, Sky Shot, War Cannon, Boss Emong, Pangalusian Island and Isla Puting Bato.
“The MMTCI-Board of Stewards, namely Rommel A. Fernandez, Volter S. Pelipel, and Rene C. Sare, were also found guilty of gross negligence amounting to dereliction of duty pursuant to PR 5.G and PR 4 and they are hereby suspended for a period of one year,” the decision said.
The commission also handed a written warning to jockey Jonathan B. Hernandez for careless riding and that repetition of similar acts in the future shall be dealt with accordingly.
Meanwhile, Javier also asked the commission to only allow the use of the horseowners’ true name in its public records.