Manila Jockey Club marketing head Nathan Mazo, Rep. Amado Bagatsing, and Atty. Dondon Bagatsing (L to R) at the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum. PHOTO BY RANDOLPH B. LEONGSON/INQUIRER.net
Three P1-million races which accumulate to P8.5 million worth of prizes highlight the seventh staging of the Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Cup Racing Festival, which will be held at San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park in Carmona, Cavite on August 29 and 30.
Rep. Amado Bagatsing, Manila Jockey Club marketing head Nathan Mazo, and Atty. Dondon Bagatsing graced the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate on Tuesday as they primed the two-day event for arguably the biggest horse racing festival in the country.
“We have 12 races on Saturday where P200,000 is already guaranteed for the winners. On Sunday, the smallest prize we have is P400,000 which can go up to as high as P1-million in the 13 races,” said Bagatsing, who represents the fifth district of Manila.
Two-year-old horses will run on 1,000-meter track while three and four-year-olds will compete on a 1,750-meter track, where organizers are gunning to break last year’s P43.4 million worth of earnings.
Top contenders for the races are Hagdan Bato, owned by Mayor Benhur Abalos, as well as Low Profile, Benrith, and Messi.
“I think it’s going to be anybody’s race,” said Bagatsing. “The racing public really has to think of their bets if they want to get big dividends from the race.”
Proceeds from the event will go to the KABAKA Clinic, Pharmacy, Laboratory and Diagnostic Center, which provides free services for the poor in San Andres Bukid and Tondo. JE