MARHO Deplores Track ConditionAfter a spate of accidents last racing week at the Philippine Racing Club's Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, MARHO president Mandaluyong Mayor Atty. Benhur Abalos sent a letter to PRC management pointing out the need for track safety."PRC needs to be more prudent with their safety measures," said Abalos. "It is very distressing to learn about the accidents to the jockeys, let alone the horses." He added that the racing club needs to assure horseowners that their track is in a fit condition for this coming PRC racing week, especially since three Philippine Racing Commission-sponsored stakes races will be held there on May 17, Sunday - the Emerald I, the Hopeful I, and the highly-prestigious Triple Crown I for local 3YO horses. Fellow MARHO director Jose Mari Franco lauded Abalos' move, and noted that "horrendous" conditions at the Manila Jockey Club's San Lazaro Leisure Park also need to be investigated. "My horse Spanish Ruler hit a lubak there two weeks ago and suffered multiple slab fractures on the right knee and can never run again." Below is the text of the letter sent by MARHO to PRC management: ******************************************* 5 May 2009 Atty. RAMON P. EREÑETA Jr. Executive Vice-President and COO Philippine Racing Club Santa Ana Park, AP Reyes Avenue Carmona, Makati City Thru: Mr. DANIEL M. VALMONTE Asst. Vice-President and Racing Manager Gentlemen: We write to express our alarm and indignation over the recent accidents incurred by jockeys and horses at Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, during the last race meeting of April 28-30 and May 1-3. The following horses suffered injuries and were suspended or destroyed: Wednesday, 29 April 2009: 1. Sun Chaser – in Race 8, the horse tripped and suffered complete compound fracture of the distal third metacarpal bone of the off-forelimb and was destroyed. Thursday, 30 April 2009: 1. Time Deposit – in Race 1, the horse was found limping on its near fore and was suspended. 2. Miss Malabon – in Race 7, was found limping on its near fore and was suspended. 3. Bumpy Johnson – the favorite in Race 7 was found limping on its off-fore and was suspended. Friday, 1 May 2009: 1. Tiger Raffy – in Race 1, was found limping on its off-fore and was suspended. 2. I Remain – in Race 6, was found limping on its off-fore and was suspended. Saturday, 2 May 2009: 1. Hugs and Kisses – in Race 2, was found limping on its near fore and was suspended. 2. Midnight King – in Race 8, tripped, unseated its rider MA Alvarez, and found to have suffered fracture of the humerus of the off shoulder and was destroyed. 3. What About Andee – in Race 13, tripped, unseated its rider ED Lumagui, and found to have suffered complete compound fracture of the distal third cannon bone of the near forelimb and was destroyed. 4. Winking Eye – in Race 13, was found limping on its off-fore and was suspended. Sunday, 3 May 2009: 1. Raven – in Race 4, was found limping on its near fore and was suspended. 2. Doña Marucha – in Race 6, was found to have suffered dislocation of the fetlock joint of the near forelimb and was suspended. 3. Fantasy Angel – in Race 8, tripped, unseated its rider KS Bergancia, and found to have suffered dislocation of the fetlock joint of the off-forelimb and was destroyed. Over a period of five racing days, a total of four horses suffered injuries so horrible that they had to be destroyed, while nine were found to have been limping after their races. On Saturday alone, two horses broke down. This is an alarming level of accidents that is unacceptable by any standards. Most alarming are the injuries incurred by the following riders: 1. MA Alvarez – unseated off Midnight King on Saturday, was unable to ride the rest of the weekend. 2. ED Lumagui – unseated off What About Andee on Saturday, is still in the ICU unit of M. V. Santiago Hospital in Trece Martirez, Cavite. According to the New Philippine Jockeys’ Association, Lumagui suffered a blood clot in the brain and still cannot speak coherently or comprehend After the heavy rains of Thursday, April 30, the track seems to have suffered some serious deterioration. The jockeys point to the track as the culprit in the accidents. In behalf of the MARHO, we strongly urge you to be more prudent and exercise safety procedures. As horseowners who have invested heavily in this sport, we are deeply concerned about the safety of our jockeys and our horses. Please inspect your track and ensure that it is fit for racing, especially since the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Hopeful, and the Emerald I Stakes will be held at your track on May 17. Very truly yours, Atty. BENHUR C. ABALOS President, MARHO and Mayor of Mandaluyong City Cc: Atty. JOSE FERDINAND M. ROJAS II Chairman, Philippine Racing Commission MARHO Celebrates Jade Anniversary in 2009 The Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners celebrates a milestone this year - its Jade Anniversary, signifying its 35th year of existence. MARHO is the first and oldest horseowners' group in the country. Founded in 1974 by San Miguel Corporation chairman and Ambassador Eduardo M. Cojuangco Jr. and fourteen other horseowners, the organization has gone from strength to strength through the years to become one of the thoroughbred industry's leaders. MARHO was the first to stage an elaborate annual racing festival, the MARHO Breeders' Cup, held every November at the Philippine Racing Club's Santa Ana Park. A concept of MARHO stalwarts Aristeo "Putch" Puyat and Leonardo "Sandy" Javier Jr., it was first run in 1996. The MBC program gives away millions in prize money each year as incentives to breeders to produce Philippine-bred champions. The leaders and members of MARHO have always been actively involved in industry matters, and are usually at the forefront of initiatives that benefit the racing and breeding sectors. Plans for this year's Jade Anniversary celebrations are underway. Said MARHO president and Mandaluyong Mayor lawyer Benhur Abalos, "We hope to stage the MARHO Founders' Cup this year, perhaps in May, in addition to the Breeders' Cup in November. We are also looking into the feasibility of putting on a horse auction to be participated in by MARHO members." MARHO Stages Charity RaceGiving to those in need is one of MARHO's tenets as an organization. This was demonstrated recently when MARHO supported a charity race for the benefit of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (Mowelfund) at the Manila Jockey Club's San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, last 18 January 2008, Sunday. Read More MARHO Breeder's Cup 2008 Souvenir Magazine The Official 13th MARHO Breeders' |
Announcement to all Horseowners MARHO is accepting weanling Fee for members: P10,000;
Deadline is on 31 December 2008.non-members: P20,000. There will be no extensions. Failure to nominate on the due date will render your horses ineligible to run in the 2009 MARHO Jade Anniversary Breeders' Cup championships. Breeders' Cup 2008 2007 Breeders' Cup
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