Horseowner says 58-kg handicap too cruel, dangerous for horses

MANILA, Philippines - Saying it’s cruelty to animals to impose a heavy handicap on horses, a prominent horseowner has written the Philippine Racing Commission to review and eventually make changes in its present handicapping system.

In his letter to the government agency overseeing the sport in the country, lawyer Narciso Morales made special mention of the ill effects of imposing the maximum handicap weight of 58 kilograms on horses as he rekindled the move to introduce new rules in handicapping.

“Considering the local conditions in our country, 58 kilograms for a racehorse to carry is cruelty to animals,” said the businessman-sportsman.

“They (horses carrying 58 kilos) will be prone to injuries and this endangers the lives of the jockeys, “ added Morales, named recently by the Philracom as the most reputable horseowner in 2014.

A successful businessman in land and air transportation industry who owns around 50 horses and a consistent top five finisher in winnings in the last four years, Morales wanted the lowering of the maximum 58 kilos to only 56 kilos, a sentiment shared by most horse owners.

“On my personal experience as a long-time horse owner, carrying a 58-kilo handicap causes injuries to knee chip bones, tendons, and others,” said Morales.

“ For a horse to run carrying 58 kilos is very dangerous and destructive,” he added.

Morales is confident the new Philracom board, now headed by a chairman Andrew Sanchez, a former horseowner and trainer, will review and effect changes in its handicapping rules.

“Without the horses, there is no industry. Let us not make it hard for them. We have daily races here so our horses are overworked. Tapos mabigat pa ang peso. Kawawa naman,” Morales said.