CLAIMING it as a victory for the jockeys and the Philippine Racing Commission, the Philracom is legally entitled to demand from the Metro Manila Turf Club one-half percent of MMTC’s gross receipts from the time of its operation on Feb. 19, 2013, according to the Regional Trial Court Branch 147 of the City of Makati.
The total amount owed by the MMTC, which as of June, 2017, totals approximately P53.7 million, is for the jockeys and horse trainers’ injury, disability and death compensation fund created under Republic Act. No. 309.
On Jan. 11, 2016, Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez received a request from the the president of the New Philippine Jockeys’ Association, seeking the commission’s help in facilitating the release of the Jockeys and Trainers Compensation Fund due to the NPJS from Metro Turf.
The Philracom acted on the NPJA request. Exercising its mandate under the law, the commission asked the assistance of the Department of Budget and The Philracom replied by citing pertinent provisions of PD420, as amended by PD 1095, saying that “The Jockeys and Horse Trainers Injury, Disability and Death Compensation Board created under Republic Act No. 6115 is hereby abolished and its functions, together with the Jockeys and Horse Trainers Compensation Fund, are hereby transferred to the Philracom.”
Even the Act Granting Metro Turf a Franchise to Construct, Operate and Maintain a Race Track for Horse Racing stipulates that “one half percent shall be set aside for the benefit of the jockeys and horse trainers.”
Penned by presiding judge Ronald Moreno, the RTC decision said that the law “clearly provides that it is the Philracom which has the authority to administer the subject fund.”
Without the Metro Turf’s contribution to the jockeys and trainers’ fund, the NPJA was forced to request from the Philracom last March 2015 to hold a charity race to raise funds for the benefit of Jockey LT Cuadra Jr., who was seriously injured in an accident, interestingly at the Metro Turf track, while he was riding his horse. Cuadra was diagnosed with intra-cerebral hemorrhage and incurred hospital expenses amounting to nearly P2 million.
The Philracom granted the NPJA request for a charity race and even shelled out P900,000 from the commission’s own budget for Cuadra’s bills.
“This is a big victory for the jockeys as they can now take care of their members using their own funds,” said Sanchez.