TO show its support for a major sector of the horseracing industry – the jockeys – the Philippine Racing Commission has added to its usual sponsorship for the 12th Jockeys’ Day racing festival to be held this weekend at Metroturf Racecourse in Malvar, Batangas.
Aˇccording to Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez, the Commission will increase to P900,000 from P750,000 its support for the two-day event that will benefit the New Philippine Jockeys Association, Inc.’s Disabled Jockeys Fund.
The NPJAI currently has 12 riders on its disabled list.
There will be four NPJAI-Philracom Cup races on Sunday, three with guaranteed prizes of P250,000 each, and one with a prize of P150,000.
“This is the ninth year in a row,” said Sanchez, “that the Commission has been supporting this worthy cause, and we assure the jockey community of our continued cooperation in their endeavors to benefit their injured and disabled members.”
The Commission, as a further show of solidarity, also approved the jockeys’ request to hold a charity footrace in between two regular races, also on Sunday.
The footrace is patterned after similar fundraising events in the United States, where jockeys, “declared” to run by sponsors who donate a certain amount, will run out of the starting gate like horses in a 100-meter dash to the finish line.
This will be the first time that such an event will be held in the country, and it is a much-anticipated by racing fans, who are also eager to meet and greet their favorite riders during the Jockeys’ Day weekend.