THE Philippine Racing Club Inc. (PRCI) and Manila Jockey Club (MJC) led the honorees at the 2019 Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) Awards at the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park recently in Carmona, Cavite.
Manila Jockey Club Chief Operating Officer Atty. Peter Sagala received the club’s award as Racing Club of the Year (Based on Total Amount of Horse Prizes), while PRCI’s Racing Manager Antonio Alcasid Jr. accepted the trophy as Racing Club of the Year (Based on Total Gross Sales of the Day).
SC Stockfarm Inc.’s Oliver Velasquez was named Philracom Stakes Races Horse Owner of the Year, while the stable’s star horse Sepfourteen was recognized as the Top Earning Horse of the Year.
Leonardo Javier Jr. was declared Horse Breeder of the Year and Narciso Morales Top Earning Horse Owner of the Year.
Ruben Tupas bagged the most awards as Philracom Stakes Races Trainer of the Year and Top Earning Trainer of the Year. He also accepted the award for the Philracom Stakes Races Horse of the Year—Smart Candy—which tied with Pride of Laguna, owned by Emmanuel Santos.
O’Neal P. Cortez and Jessie B. Guce won the Top Earning Jockey of the Year and Stakes Races Jockey of the Year, respectively.
The 11th Manila Horse Power Organization Inc. Anniversary Racing Festival was declared as the Most Successful Racing Festival of the Year with the trophy being awarded to Ferdie Eusebio.
“These awardees stood out for the industry during a trying year. They were the bright spots and they deserve all of the accolades,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez, who was joined by his commissioners in the ceremony.
The ceremony was held before the 2019 Philracom Commissioner’s Cup graced by Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno.
Later, using its Horse of the Year award as an inspiration and motivation, Sepfourteen added another win—the Commissioners’ Cup in a down-to-the-wire victory over longtime rival Electric Truth.
The tandem of jockey JA Guce and Sepfourteen played catch up from the start before turning the tide in the last 500 meters.
The Javier-owned Electric Truth gave Sepfourteen a scare after rushing from behind in the last 300 meters, slowly closing the gap before coming up short in seizing the lead.
The Santa Clara Stockfarm-raised Sepfourteen bagged P900,000, including the P50,000 breeder’s purse and trophies, while Electric Truth took home P337,500.
Third-placer Pangalusian Island pocketed P187,500 and Mandatum earned P75,000 for fourth place.