46th PCSO Gold Cup to run Sunday at SLLP

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJC) is hosting the 46th PCSO Presidential Gold Cup tomorrow at the San Lazaro Leisure Park (SLLP) in Carmona, Cavite. 

The Presidential Gold Cup was conceived of by PCSO chairman and general manager, Nereo Andolong. The first edition was held in October 1973 at the San Lazaro Hippodrome in Santa Cruz, Manila.

The race featured favorites Sun God and Ilocos King. Sun God, owned by Don Pedro Cojuangco, eventually won the race with Jockey Elias Ordiales on board. 

The following year was dominated by Constante Rubio’s Ilocos King, which was ridden by Jockey Crescencio. The duo set the fastest winning time of 2:17, breaking the previous record of Sun God.

From 1975 to 1978,  San Lazaro Hippodrome continued to host the popular race with Henna’s Gold, Fiorella, Little Morning and Gypsy Grey becoming Gold Cup champions, respectively. Starting 1979 to 2012, MJC and the Philippine Racing Club, Inc. (PRCI) would take turns in hosting the Gold Cup race. 

The legendary Fair and Square was the first horse to score a back-to-back win, claiming his second title on Dec. 12, 1982 at San Lazaro. The colt, owned by Cesar and Herminia Mamon, was mounted by Jockey Jesus Guce.

The feat was then followed by horses Sun Dancer, Bulldozer and Wind Blown. At present, the celebrated Hagdang Bato by owner Benhur Abalos is the latest horse to hold two Gold Cup titles – in 2012 and 2014. 

Of the 45 editions, 27 races have been hosted by MJC. The PCSO Gold Cup will once again return to its home at SLLP tomorrow. 

Locally-bred runners will compete for the grand P5 million distributed purse for the first-fourth placers, including a cash incentive to the winning breeder.

Declared runners are Manalig Ka/CS Pare Jr. by Aurelio de Leon; Electric Truth/MA Alvarez by Leonardo Javier Jr.; Highway One/VR Dilema by Cool Summer Farm; Dixie Gold/OP Cortez by Joseph Dyhengco; Radioactive/KB Abobo and Sepfourteen/JA Guce by SC Stockfarm Inc.; Salt and Pepper/JB Hernandez by Herminio Esguerra; and Pangalusian Island/JPa Guce by Wilbert Tan.

Additional stakes races which will be conducted in accordance with Philracom’s Rating-Based Handicapping System include Fundador Cup Division I, Fundador Cup Division II, EEG Development Corporation Cup, and Mayor Ramon Preza Cup.

All races will have a guaranteed prize of P250,000 distributed to the first-fourth placers, plus trophies to the winning owner, trainer and jockey.