Record P2.3M staked in Gold Cup

The richest and most prestigious horse race in the country comes off the wraps on Dec. 22 at the San Lazaro Hippodrome as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), in cooperation with the Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJCI), holds the 30th annual PCSO Presidential Gold Cup.

Considered as the high point of the yearly racing calendar, the PCSO Presidential Golf Cup will once again showcase the best thoroughbreds in the land, each one of them vying for the P1.5 million winner’s purse out of a record pot of P2.375 million. The race cover a classic distance of 2,000 meters or 1-1/4 miles.

PCSO chairman and general manager Ma. Livia "Honeygirl" de Leon sounded out the invitation to this year’s prestigious event in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Holiday Inn.

"The annual running of the Presidential Gold Cup is a reaffirmation of the PCSO’s commitment to elevate the standard of local horse racing and provide the incentive for the improvement of the local breed. More over, the race also stands as a recognition of horse racing’s significant contribution to the economy and to the noble task of raising funds for charity as a partner of the PCSO," De Leon said.

Thirteen battle-scarred chargers, led by local track sensation Wind Blown, the five-year-old galloper who’ll be gunning for a record third straight Presidential Gold Cup victory will see action. Others in the hunt include three-year-old division standouts Golden Ballet, What A Spell and Free Wind, comebacking Triple Crown champion Silver Story, veteran campaigners Lord of All, Lyonnais, Staunch Ally and Hyperbid as well as San Diego Force, Golden Eagle, Perfect Storm and Kitty Hawk.

The winner will also receive a handsome replica of the original PCSO Presidential Gold Cup from no less than President Arroyo who also graced the event last year.

The PCSO has also upped the ante in this year’s running of the Presidential Gold Cup Race as it simultaneously holds the maiden draw of its multi-million 7-Digit Sweepstakes also on the same day.

Dubbed as the PCSO Presidential Gold Cup-7 Digit Sweepstakes Christmas Draw, the big event is part of the PCSO’s Yuletide offering and jumpstarts the revival of the original Sweepstakes format, wherein the final Sweepstakes Draw results would depend on the outcome of the featured Presidential Gold Cup race.

"This event will further reinforce the time-tested partnership between the local horse racing industry and the PCSO in the noble task of generating funds for charity and much-needed revenues for the government," De Leon added.

"The PCSO has issued an invitation to President Arroyo to take part in this year’s Presidential Gold Cup festivities, which is expected to attract a sizeable following of horse racing aficionados," she added.