Aussie expert maintains SLLP a world-class track

Peter Morrison, the noted Australian international racing announcer who has seen the best tracks in the world while covering some of the high-stake races the last 40 years, yesterday maintained the deaths of four race horses at the San Lazaro Leisure Park last week were caused by factors other than the poor racing condition at the newly-opened track in Carmona, Cavite.

In fact, Morrison considers SLLP a first-rate racetrack which can measure up to the best in the world — in design, structure, distance and racing surface.

"I believe it is a world-class track which can match up to any track in the world," said Morrison, reacting to reports blaming SLLP’s premature opening and the track’s poor racing condition as the cause of a rash of race-related incidents that resulted in the death of four race horses.

Morrison was the guest announcer during the six-day festivities and saw the incidents that marred an otherwise successful staging of the first-ever races at the newly-built racetrack.

The Manila Jockey Club, Inc., which operates the SLLP, has since refuted the charges, saying it was beyond the control of the racing officials and that the four race horses that perished got involved in a series of racing accidents.

Runaway Bride tripped and fell on an April 10 race, the same race where Flower Power collapsed and died on her way back to the stables. Security Express died after winning a race, collapsing and perishing moments after crossing the finish line. Hearts on fire also collapsed 200 meters before the finish line.

The incidents consequently incurred the ire of concerned members of the horse racing community.

"The track has nothing to do with the death of the horses. It can happen anywhere in the world," said Morrison, adding that the SLLP is far more superior than the old San Lazaro track in Tayuman.