Philracom cracks whip on Sta. Ana race execs

The Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) has sacked the racing manager and handicapper of the Sta. Ana racetrack in Naic, Cavite, as well as a horseowner-trainer over anomalies in the declaration of entries.

Philracom chair Angel Castaño suspended handicapper Allan Aglipay for four months and racing manager Dan Balmonte for two months for repeatedly declaring (allowing to run) suspended or disqualified horses in the Sta. Ana race program.

Rafael Larosa, a top-notch horseowner-trainer who was able to get his disqualified horses to run, was also punished under the Philracom’s theory of collusion. He was suspended for six weeks.

“This is the second time, and the irony of it is that (the horse) has just one owner,” Castaño told the Inquirer over the phone last night. “It’s no longer a coincidence. There’s already malice.”

Castaño penalized Balmonte under the “command responsibility” rule. He said Balmonte should have scrutinized the lineups of entries that Aglipay declared during racedays.

The Philracom chief said that while Aglipay had had four infractions of the rule, Balmonte had had seven so far.

Trainers, Castaño said, are responsible for knowing when their horses are eligible to run.

He said Larosa should have merited a longer suspension, “but it’s the maximum allowed under the rules.”