Bagatsing racefest set at Santa Ana

MANILA, Philippines - The local horseracing industry will pay tribute to a late friend and supporter by staging the prize-rich first Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Memorial Racing Festival next week at the new Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

A total of 63 races including two big stakes events make up the program in the week-long event, which honors a politician-sportsman who cared a lot for horseracing when he was the Manila mayor in the early 70s.

The racefest kicks off on Tuesday and culminates on Sunday, with a Division 1 stakes race that’s expected to draw some of the finest local horses at present.

On Wednesday, the late mayor’s birth anniversary, the Division 2 event, open to all local and imported runners, highlights an eight-race card with prizes of P25,000 or more to be added to the regular prizes of the day.

“This event honors a horseman who loved the industry so well and did a lot (for the sport) when he was around,” said Manila congressman Amado Bagatsing, son of the former mayor who presently owns a number of horses.

The congressman said proceeds of the event will go to the Kabaka Foundation, which he created many years ago to provide scholarships to deserving students.

“Education was a cause dearest to my father’s heart, and we want that legacy to be carried on,” said Bagatsing.

Another son of the mayor, Dondon, also a former Manila congressman, said the family is hoping this festival will become an annual affair “which racing participants and aficionados can look forward to”.

 Aside from the Philippine Racing Commission, others who are backing the festival are DENR secretary Lito Atienza, Smart, Department of Tourism, PAGCOR, PCSO, MARHO, Klub Don Juan de Manila, Philtobo, Aristeo Puyat, Leonardo Javier, Eric Tagle, Hermie Esguerra, Antonio de Ubago, Rodolfo Pineda, Jun Sevilla, Eduardo Francisco, Ryan Bagatsing, Robbie Oca, the Channel Group, Maynilad, Euromed and DMCI Homes.

According to the Bagatsing brothers, a cash award of P3,000 and a sack of rice will be given to each winning groom in every race for the entire week.

All races scheduled during the week will have added prizes, the Bagatsings said.