Wind Blown racefest unwraps at Santa Ana

The biggest honor to be bestowed upon any local racehorse unfolds today when the "Wind Blown Racing Festival" gets going before another expected mammoth crowd at the Santa Ana Park

At the center of today’s festivities is Wind Blown, Hermie Esguerra’s champion galloper who will be making his farewell gallop as he winds up an illustrious career unprecedented in local racing history.

"This special day, I would like to share with all of you the pride and joy of a horse owner and a horse fanatic. This day is for my fellow horse owners, breeders and all racing fans who have supported Wind Blown. Thank you very much to all of you," said Esguerra.

A fantastic racing card has been put up by host Philippine Racing Club in coordination with the Philippine Racing Commission for the Wind Blown Racing Festival where a total pot of P2.5 million will be at stake.

Highlight race of the day is the inaugural running of the P1-million Wind Blown Classic featuring four of this year’s top candidates in the coming Presidential Gold Cup.

Battling it out in the Wind Blown Classic (1,800 meters) are defending PGC champion Free Wind, in-form Material Maker and classy three-year-olds High Octane and Success Story.

The Wind Blown Classic, offering P600,000 to the winner, will be flagged off after the six-year-old son of Hazm and Wind in My Hair makes his final gallop with star jockey Jeffril Zarate aboard.

Also included in the program are Rannie Raymundo’s rendition of the song entitled "Wind Blown," announcement of the top winners of the "Likha Tula" contest and giving away of caps and t-shirts. Wind Blown’s trophies, plaques and other achievement awards will also be displayed at the A.P. Reyes Hall for all racing fans to see.

Esguerra officially announced Wind Blown’s retirement after the Nestor Manalang-trained galloper bred by Sandy Javier won the eighth Marho Breeders’ Cup Classic last Nov. 23 for a historic third straight year.

Wind Blown, known as "The King of Philippine Racing," retired as the richest local racehorse with a total of P18, 978, 695.50 in earnings over a brilliant four-year career. The three-time Horse of the Year awardee (twice by the Philippine Sportswriters Association and once by the Philtobo) tallied a remarkable 36 wins (24 stakes events) in 49 outings.

Material Maker emerged as pre-race pick in the Wind Blown Classic after topping the Japan Racing Association Cup in impressive style last Sunday.

Free Wind, meanwhile, will aim to get back at Material Maker, while High Octane and Success Story will try to steal the show.