Bagatsing racefest out to snap P27M sales mark

MANILA, Philippines - The third Ramon Bagatsing Memorial Racing Festival slated this Friday is being expected by organizers to break the P27 million single day sales record at the San Lazaro Leisure & Business Park in Cavite.

Lawyer Ramon “Dondon” Bagatsing Jr., one of the top 50 horse-owners in the country, said they have put together a very good lineup of races for the third installment of the racing festival in honor of their father, the late Manila Mayor Ramon Bagatsing.

“There will be nine races scheduled which we believe will be very competitive. This is all being done in memory of our father’s passion for horses. More than just a politician, people knew him more as a horseman,” Bagatsing said.

The racing festival will have P3.30 million at stake and will feature for the first time a Division III race that will have thoroughbreds from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America competing at a distance of 1,500 meters.

The newest addition to the annual racing festival is being sponsored by International Container Terminal Services Inc. and Herma Farms.

Still, as in the first two installments of the racing festival, the highlight will be the Division I and Division II races which will be run at 1,900-meter distance and sponsored by the Philippine Racing Commission.

Bagatsing said there is a possibility that race records could be set in the Division I race. The first two winners of the Division I race were Don Enrico and Thotis Best.

The racing festival is also the Bagatsing family’s nod to the Gran Copa de Manila races which the late Mayor Bagatsing revived in 1980 to boost the popularity of horseracing in the country.

Proceeds from the racing festival will be donated to the Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran Foundation.

This year’s edition of the racing festival is being sponsored by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Resorts World Manila, Smart Communications, Negros Occidental Congressman Alfredo Benitez, and businessman Eddie Gonzales.