MANILA, Philippines — Philippine horce-racing makes its return this Sunday at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas after a six-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The billion-peso industry, run by the Philippine Racing Commission, ushers in regular races Sunday while stake races fire off on Sept. 13 with the 3YO Maiden Stakes Race and Road To Triple Crown.
Big-time races like the Triple Crown Series (Oct. 4. and 31, Nov. 29), the Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” M. Cojuangco Jr. Cup (Nov. 15) and the Juvenile Championship (Dec. 13) are also in line with San Lazaro Leisure Park of the Manila Jockey Club in Carmona and the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park of the Philippine Racing Club in Naic, Cavite as other venues.
The approval to resume horse-racing was relayed to the Philracom by Kenneth Ronquillo, head of secretariat of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases.
The IATF approved the request of the Philracom for the resumption of horse-racing activities after the lifting of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Batangas and Cavite last Aug. 18. Also allowed by the IATF is Telebet and Off-Site Betting in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ).
The Philracom said strict enforcement of all public health standards approved by the Department of Health will be observed in all the races.
This means fans won’t be allowed to personally watch the races, with only the racing clubs’ employees, Philracom personnel, horse-owners, jockeys, trainers and special guests allowed at the venues.