'TC' winner Hagdang Bato leads Bagatsing Cup cast

MANILA, Philippines - Hagdang Bato makes his first big appearance after his Triple Crown feat as he leads the field in the main event of the fourth Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Memorial Cup this weekend at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.

Staged by the Kabaka Foundation, Inc., the racing festival honors the late mayor of Manila, a noted sportsman, breeder and horseowner.

The mayor’s sons, Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing (5th district) and former Manila congressman and lawyer Ramon Bagatsing Jr., themselves long-time horseowners and breeders, put up the event in 2009 as tribute to their father.

“My father had a soft heart for the humble people of society, and we are carrying on his legacy of compassion and service by recognizing the achievement of grooms, who have a valuable role in the industry by providing direct care to the horses,” said Rep. Bagatsing.

The late mayor made many contributions to the development of the sport, advocating the passing of the 1957 National Stud Farm law that facilitated the importation of thoroughbreds to improve local bloodstock. Over time, this led to more exciting races as the imports set faster times and gave better performances, leading to native horses unsuited for racing being edged out of the sport.

Bagatsing also revived the Manila Jockey Club’s Gran Copa de Manila tradition, which began in 1898.

Seeking to make the races more exciting during his term, Mayor Bagatsing coordinated with MJC to run the Gran Copa every June 24, Araw ng Maynila, with the event eventually having Division I and Division II races, a tradition revived in the Bagatsing Cup.

“This year’s Mayor Bagatsing Cup will be a very special event because during my late father’s birthday on Aug. 19, we will be seeing this year’s Triple Crown champion Hagdang Bato competing in the PCSO National Grand Derby,” said Bagatsing.

Thirteen races will be slated on Sunday with the Mayor Ramon D. Bagatsing Cup Division I and Division II (sponsored by the Philippine Racing Commission), two Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office-RDB Cup races, the PCSO National Grand Derby and the Philippines-Japan Friendship Cup, among the major races.

There will also be support races held Saturday and Sunday, backed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., San Miguel Corporation, Resorts World, EEG Development Corporation, Cong. Albee Benitez, SMART Communication, Solaire Resort and Casino, Tiger Resort and Leisure, All-Tech/Ridgemont Feeds, FR Sevilla Industrial Corporation, Red Bull, San Juan Coliseum, and horseowners’ organizations MARHO, Philtobo, and Klub Don Juan de Manila.