Senate Pres. Cup up at San Lazaro

The year’s first P1-million horse race takes center stage today at the San Lazaro Hippodrome as the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. (SSFI) and the Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJCI) jointly spearhead the inaugural running of the "Senate President’s Cup," highlight event of the five-day "Karera Para Sa Puso" racing carnival.

Batangas Entry, currently one of the finest race horses in the country, sets out as the top favorite with four other entries vying for the P600,000 winner’s purse at the San Lazaro Hippodrome.

Batangas Entry, a four-year-old bay colt owned by rising Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) superstar Paolo Mendoza, is favored to win the 1,900-meter race to be held in honor of Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Out to crowd Batangas Entry, who came close to beating the sensational Wind Blown during the Philracom Open at Sta. Ana last Dec. 29, are Charlemagne, Santa Ana Park, Master Ijhay and Lyonnais.

Runners-up in the race sponsored by the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc., PLDT and Smart will receive P225,000, third placer P125,000 and fourth placer P50,000. Batangas Entry will carry the heaviest handicap weight of 54 kgs.

Principally sponsored by telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Smart Communications, the marquee event headlines MJCI’s spectacular 13-race program which also features the P500,000 "San Miguel Beer Cup" as the principal lead-up stakes race.

"In behalf of the SSFI, I would like to thank all of those who have extended their support in making possible and ensuring the success of this unprecedented fund-raising project. We would, of course, like to acknowledge the generous sponsorships and pledges of PLDT, Smart Communications, San Miguel Beer, PCSO, Casino Filipino, GSIS, DBP, Allied Banking Corporation, Bank of Commerce and the Manila Bulletin which would now make possible the realization of SSFI’s plans to set up centers for the elderly and sick throughout the country," noted SSFI president Milagros Drilon.

Senate President Drilon, the principal race honoree, is expected to be on hand to personally award the championship trophy to the owner of the winning horse in the "Senate President’s Cup."

Slated as a perfect runup to the day’s main event is the "San Miguel Beer Cup," a 1,500-meter race involving eight classy gallopers led by champion distaffers Ilocandia Slew and Hazmoore. — Ramon Romualdez