Horseowners up in arms

The P8 billion-per-year horseracing industry has been paralyzed as the overwhelming majority of racehorse owners declared a “racing holiday” while calling for a total revamp of the Philippine Racing Commission under chairman Florencio Fianza.

The Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners (Marho), Philippine Thoroughbred Owners’ and Breeders’ Organization (Philtobo) and Klub Don Juan de Manila (KDJM) banded together in airing their grievances in a hastily called press conference at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club yesterday.

Members of the three groups didn’t declare their horses for the Santa Ana races yesterday and today while previously declared horses were scratched or withdrawn.

They instead came in full force in the Wack Wack press conference, declaring that their action manifests their protest against alleged detrimental policies and directives implemented by the Philracom since last year.

“We’d been very patient. We tried to have a middle ground but there’s time for peace and time for resignation. Racehorse owners have united to call for the total revamp of Philracom,” said Mandaluyong mayor and MARHO president Benhur Abalos.

“We’ve crossed the line na wala nang atrasan. I will convey to President Arroyo the horseowners’ appeal for an immediate revamp of the Philracom leadership. Alam kong may puso ang Presidente at pakikinggan niya ang aming kahilingan,” Abalos added.

Horseman Willian Dagan is asking Malacañang to take Philracom seriously this time. He alleged “the former Philracom chairman was found guilty of malversation of public funds but his group of commissioners, who is supposed to do the check and balance, has continuously stayed in the office not through the merit of performance but through strong political connections.”

Abalos alleged Fianza, a retired police general, has polarized himself from the racehorse owners due to his non-consultative leadership preceding from lack of knowledge and understanding of the industry.

The racehorse owners’ other complaints are Fianza’s alleged ill-conceived handicapping, lack of comprehensive program for the horses,  failure to go against illegal bookies and poor returns of additional budget.

Abalos said they want someone from the industry who knows the intricacies of horseracing to replace Fianza. The Mandaluyong chief executive didn’t mention anyone in particular, though.

“How could he lead kung 90 percent ng industriya hindi nakikinig sa kanya?” said Abalos.

The horsemen said they’re alarmed by the stagnation in sales since Fianza took over in 2006.

The group said prior to Gen. Fianza’s appointment, the industry had been enjoying an average of 13.52 percent growth rate from 1999 to 2005. In 2006, Fianza’s first year of office, it dipped sharply to -2.78 percent while in 2007 a meager 1.17 percent increase was registered.

“These numbers don’t lie. Kahit ano pa ang ipakita niya, this is the real measure of success. The industry stagnated despite Philracom being allocated the biggest budget in its history in 2007,” Abalos said.

Horseracing is a giant industry that contributes close to P2 billion to government coffers annually.