Going into the penultimate day of the five-day "Karera Para sa Puso" racing festival, track side action goes into higher gear as the Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) act as co-presentors to the running of two highly-charged stakes events, the P500,000 Casino Filipino Cup and the P500,000 PCSO Cup.
"We are truly overwhelmed by the generous support being extended by our friends from the corporate sector that has made possible the staging of these special benefit races to help us (SSFI) raise funds to defray the cost of building centers for the elderly and sick throughout the country," declared SSFI president Milagros Drilon, wife of Senate President Franklin Drilon.
A select field of nine thoroughbreds are set to see action in the "Casino Filipino Cup," headlined by likely favorite and noted speedball All Smiles. Others in contention for the 1,500-meter stakes event include Deputy Royale, Sunny Puddles, Patikim, Desert Deb, Red Bells, Mrs. Big, Hostile Witness and Silent Wind.
Meanwhile, seven crack gallopers are slated to dispute the "PCSO Cup" including Legend of Gaia, Astuce, Going Free, Hyperbid, Chief Navigator, Royal Service and early favorite Kitty Hawk.
Top officials from the sponsoring Casino Filipino and the PCSO led by Pagcor chairman Ephraim Genuino and PCSO chairperson Ma. Livia "Honeygirl" de Leon, are expected to be on hand to assist in the awarding of trophies to the winning connections of their respective sponsored races.
In support of the featured benefit races, the SSFI, the PCSO and the MJCI will also be conducting a special medical mission at the San Lazaro Hippodrome from 8 a.m. to 12 noon today. The said medical mission is also being supported by Representative Harry Angping of the 3rd District of Manila, together with a pool of 20 doctors who are set to provide free medical consultations and medicines.