Hagdang Bato owner seeks mishap probe

IS THERE a responsible horse racing body or authority in the county?

This question begs for a reply after a faulty starting gate hampered top favorite Hagdang Bato, thus causing the reigning horse of the year to finish below expectations in the 41st PCSO Presidential Gold Cup held Dec. 1 at Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

So far, nothing has come out days after Hagdang Bato owner Benhur Abalos, Mayor of Mandaluyong City, has written the Philippine Racing Commission, host Manila Jockey Club, and the sponsoring Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

In a letter sent out Wednesday, Abalos said the “governing bodies should at least exercise their discretion to consider the horse as a nonstarter to protect the public, especially those who placed their bets on Hagdang Bato.

“The mishap cost our team to lose a shot at glory. But it is not so much because I wish to claim our losses that I bring these to your attention, rather it is my sincere desire that steps should be taken to prevent similar events to happen in the future.”

Abalos added: “The jockey and the horse’s safety should always be the paramount concern and the betting public deserves their money’s worth.”

Ridden by veteran Jonathan Hernandez, Hagdang Bato came in fourth in the 2000-meter, 10-horse race after a fumbling start sent the top favorite and its jockey doing catch-up all the way.

Video replays show Hagdang Bato’s stall door swinging back, thereby hitting him after the gates had opened. The impact visibly caused the multititled runner to trip, while nearly falling on his belly.

“Right from the sounding of the starting bell, while the rest of the gates opened just fine, Hagdang Bato’s apparatus failed to function correctly,” noted Abalos.

“For the sake of the continued growth of the sport of horse racing in the country, I call upon for a formal investigation,” Abalos stated in his letter. Recah Trinidad