H Bato topbills Bagatsing Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Track icon Hagdang Bato will seek redemption for past losses against other top thoroughbreds in the Resorts World-Challenge of Champions Cup in the seventh Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Memorial Racing Festival today at San Lazaro Leisure Park.

The multi-awarded campaigner owned by Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos has been having a tough year, but is ready to engage Dixie Gold, Hot and Spicy, Low Profile, Messi, Oh Oh Seven, and Penrith in the 1,750-meter race.

The event in honor of the late mayor of Manila was founded in 2009 by his sons Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing and Philippine Racing commissioner-lawyer Ramon Bagatsing Jr.

It is patterned after the Araw ng Maynila Gran Copa de Manila racing festival at the old San Lazaro Hippodrome that was organized and made popular by the late mayor as part of the city’s celebration.

Also set for today are the Philracom-Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Cup Division I, a P1 million race for 3YO local-breds, featuring Breaking Bad, Dikoridik Koridak, Gentle Strength, Icon, Princess Ella, Princess Meili, Spicy Time and Thunder Maxx.

The declared runners in the Philracom-Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Cup Division II for 3YO local horses with P400,000 total prize money are Guimaras Island, Hola Alonso, Just Imagine, Lakan, Surfer’s Paradise, Top Secret and Winning Move.

Resorts World has sponsored another P500,000 race, as San Miguel Corporation. Solaire Resort and Casino have provided for two P500,000 races.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office participated with two P400,000 races, while Midas Hotel and Casino, City of Dreams  (Premium Leisure and Amusement, Inc.), Stradcom and Manila Jockey Club have backed one P400,000 race each.

Other sponsors are EEG Development Corp., DLTB Co., SMART Communications, Pasay Mayor Antonio Calixto, Red Bull Energy Drink, and Fundador. The last two will be giving gift packs to winning grooms and other participants.

“Through the Mayor Bagatsing racing festival, we are helping with the promotion of the industry that our late father was very much involved in, as our tribute to his memory. We are also providing incentives for the people who continue to sustain this sport,” Rep. Bagatsing said.

 The Mayor Bagatsing racefest has broken sales records over the years as the event expanded into the weekend festival that it is now.

The prizes this year totalled P8.5 million for 18 races out of 25 for the weekend, the highest total prize money put up for the event so far.

The main events will be held today. Special races were held yesterday.

The Bagatsing family will award a prize of P5,000, a sack of rice worth P1,500, and giveaways from the Kabaka Foundation to each winning groom.

“Grooms are usually in the background of the sport,” said Commissioner Bagatsing. “Recognizing their accomplishments and giving them incentives has become an annual tradition of the Bagatsing racing festival, and we are glad that our event has in this regard set an example to other racing organizations.”