Horse racing fans are in for another treat as the Philippine Racing Commission presents the Philracom Chairman’s Cup and the 3YO Imported/Local Challenge Race Championship on Sunday at the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.
The Chairman’s Cup is held annually to honor past Philracom chiefs. This year, the honoree is the late Makati Mayor Nemesio I. Yabut, who spearheaded the racing body from 1978 to 1986.
Owner Melanie Habla has two entries in the 2,000-meter Chairman’s Cup, namely Shanghai Gray, to be ridden by jockey KB Abobo, and Weather Lang, which will be steered by jockey JL Paano.
Out to stop the Habla pair are Jayz (jockey JA Guce, SC Stockfarm), Real Gold (JP A. Guce, C&H Enterprise) and The Accountant (RO Niu Jr., Luis Aguila).
The five-horse cast in the Chairman’s Cup, which boasts of a total of P2 million in prizes, will shoot for the top purse of P1.2 million, with the runner-up taking P450,000. Third and fourth placers get P250,000 and P100,000, respectively, with P70,000 allotted to the breeder of the winning horse.
The cast for the Philracom Imported/Local Challenge Race Championship, which will also be run in 2,000 meters, isn’t a pushover either, with Magtotobetsky of multi-titled owner Leonardo Javier Jr. and jockey AM Villegas leading the charge.
Joining the fray in the Challenge Race, which offers a total prize of P1.5 million, are Bullish Desire (jockey LA Abrea, owner Jan Anthony Coching), Joyous Solution (JB Guce, Allan Keith Queensboro (RO Niu Jr., Feliciano Tolosa) and Will To Win (MA Alvarez, Wally Manalo).
A top purse of P900,000 awaits the champion of the 3YO race, with the runner-up getting P337,500 and the third and fourth placers, pocketing P187,500 and P75,000, respectively.
“We expect another exciting day at the racetrack,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez. “Some of the industry’s best runners are running and so we can anticipate another good show for all Filipino racing fans.”
The Philracom rounds out its races for the year on December 31 with the holding of the 2019 Juvenile Championship at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, featuring the much-awaited showdown between Union Bell and Exponential.