MANILA Jockey Club, the premier horseracing club in the Philippines, will host the Ramon Bagatsing Centennial Classique on Sunday at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.
The racing festival, which is running on its eighth year, is a memorial on the life and love of horseracing by the City of Manila’s ex-mayor.
“We celebrate the memory of my father, and his life’s achievements by holding this annual racing festival. He would have been 100 years old today, and I, along with the entire Bagatsing clan remain steadfast in continuing the tradition he has established, and uphold his proud legacy. Mahal na mahal po ni Mayor ang karera, lalo na ang bayang karerista, kaya iniimbitahan po namin kayong lahat na makisaya at maki-isa sa amin!” Amado Bagatsing, eldest son and ex-congressman of Manila’s 5th district said.
Andrew Sanchez, chairman of the Philippine Racing Commission said: “The late Ramon Bagatsing was one of Philippine horseracing’s finest ambassadors. It was he, who gave us the Gran Copa de Manila, and through him that some of the country’s greatest races ran. It was he who set the standard, and through his example, Philippine horseracing will continue to progress.”
Major races of the racing festival are the 1,750-meter, 3-year old Centennial Classic, featuring imported versus local horses Radio Active, Homonhon Island, Dewey Boulevard, Space Needle, and Daiquiri Lass.
The 1,750-meter, 4-year-old-and-above Challenge of Champions, will have Atomicseventynine, Haley’s Rainbow, Dixie Gold, Court Of Honour, Kanlaon, Love To Death, and Marinx.
The 1,500-meter, 3-year old local Challenge Race, on the other hand, will feature Real Flames, Pinay Pharoah, Leave It To Me, Mr. Noble, Guanta Na Mera, Xen Young, Double Rock, Bite My Dust, Pinagtipunan, Kundiman, Play It Safe, and Creative.
Also on this day, the PHILRACOM will be staging the 5th leg of the 2,000-meter Imported/Local Challenge, where imported and locally-born horses will go head to head.
Atty. Ramon Bagatsing, Jr., second-born son of the late Manila Mayor and a commissioner of the PHILRACOM said: “We are grateful for all of the sponsors who continue to support this worthwhile endeavor. We not only celebrate the memory of my father, but also contribute to uplifting the welfare and livelihood of the residents of the City of Manila through the contributions made to the KABAKA Foundation. We do my father proud by continuing his lifelong work of helping our fellow countrymen.”
Sponsors of the Ramon Bagatsing Centennial Classique include Resorts World Manila, the Philippine Racing Commission, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Solaire Resort & Casino, Midas Hotel and Casino, Manila Jockey Club, DLTB Bus Company, Herma Farms, EEG Development Corporation, Mr. Eduardo “Duay” Calixto, City of Dreams Manila, Pacific Online, Skyway Corporation, Smart Communications, Mr. Gardi Cruz, Engr. Jun Sevilla, Mr. Al Tenco, and Mr. Bing Tecson.
Part of the proceeds will go to the KABAKA (Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran) Foundation, a non-governmental foundation dedicated to providing comprehensive social services to the poor. It was founded by Amado Bagatsing in 1985, and provides medical assistance, nutrition-feeding programs (for children), educational and skills training programs, and facilitates social and economic initiatives to those belonging to disadvantaged sectors of the community.
Atty. Alfonso Reyno III, president and chief operations officer of Manila Jockey Club, said: “The Manila Jockey Club has maintained close and fruitful ties with the Bagatsing family over a long period of time, and the contributions made by the late Mayor Ramon Bagatsing to the horseracing industry are unparalleled. It is a great honor to host the Ramon Bagatsing Centennial Classique.”
The races will air live on San Lazaro Broadcasting Network (SLBN), which is available on Cignal 97, Sky Cable 113, Destiny Cable 84, and all 250 Manila Jockey Club-affiliated Off-Track Betting (OTB) stations. Online, the races can be viewed by clicking the Live Racing link on www.manilajockey.com, and those who would like to participate can do so through their Fastbet account or by downloading the Gametime application from www.gametime.ph. The racetrack, San Lazaro Leisure Park, is located in Carmona, Cavite, and is accessible via the Carmona exit on South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).