Morales, rider Hernandez share honors

WITH more than P22 million in prize money, and after booting home 182 winners, Narciso Morales and Jonathan Hernandez emerged as the champion owner and jockey, respectively, of the 2015 horse racing season.

Morales’ chargers won a total of 137 races last year, including several stakes and sweepstakes races, to win the honor as top owner for the second time in the last three years.

Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos placed second with P13 million in winnings on the strength of 62 first place finishes.

Hernandez nosed out Mark Alvarez by posting 11 more victories and picking up some P500,000 more than his closest rival in total money won.

Hernandez bankrolled a total of P4,541,042 with Jeff Zarate checking in third with one more win than Alvarez but with lesser money earnings with P3.3 million.

Low Profile, after 12 wins and a total of close to P5.5 million in winnings, was installed as the best horse, with the Abalos-owned Gentle Strength winding up a close second with nine wins worth P5.37 million.

“This (being No. 1) is the product of their hard work,” Morales said in paying tribute to the men in his stables. “They did their homework well since Day 1 of the last season.”

The veteran Ruben Tupas, after 238 wins, emerged as the runaway top trainer according to figures released by the Philippine Racing Commission. Musong R. Castillo