Horseracing industry kumita ng P7.7 bilyon

MANILA, Philippines – Kumita ang thoroughbred horseracing industry ng gross sales na P7.7 bilyon noong 2015 kung saan ang halos P1.15 bilyon ay napunta sa kaban ng bayan bilang direct taxes.

Ito ang pahayag kahapon ng Philippine Racing Com­mission.

Ang gross prize money para sa first placers ay may average na P12,936.68 kung saan nakakuha ang mga horseowners ng P76,419.35.

Nagbigay ang komisyon noong 2015 ng lisensya sa 1,563 industry members, kasama ang 30 bagong horseowners at apat na bagong racehorse trainers at nagtala ng 2,348 racehorses.

Ang Stud Book division ay may 88 active tho­roughbred stallions at 1,116 active broodmares at 587 bagong runners (novatos).

Sa pamamagitan ng Presidential Decree No. 420 ay nagsuspinde ang Philracom ng lisensya ng 128 industry members.

Sa pagpapatupad ng mahigpit na racing rules at re­gulations, ang koleksyon ng fees, fines at penalties ay umabot sa P15.25 milyon ay ibinigay sa Bureau of Trea­sury.

Naglatag ang Commission ng P43.32 milyong premyo para sa kanilang mga sponsored stakes races noong 2015 at nagdaos ng 20 charity races kung saan ang P3.5 milyon ay idiniretso sa beneficiaries.

“Our biggest challenge in 2016 is to help stakeholders find ways to increase revenue. The sport has tremendous potential and is a steady and reliable contributor of funds to government by way of direct and indirect taxes,” sabi ni Philracom chairman Andrew A. Sanchez.

“The sport and its allied activity, Thoroughbred breeding, accounts for thousands of jobs in the ra­cing clubs, breeding ranches, and racing organizations. It also provides business opportunities for suppliers, caterers, and other entrepreneurs,” dagdag pa nito.