PRCI posts P46.3 million in single day

The Philippine Racing Club, Inc. (PRCI), operator of Santa Ana Park, ended its yearlong racing program with a bang last Sunday when it posted a new sales record of P46.3 million to once again reaffirm its claim as the country’s premier race club.

The new record easily surpassed the previous high of P44.7 million set by the Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJCI), operator of San Lazaro Hippodrome, last June 24 during annual staging of the Gran Copa de Manila.

More than raising the bar for the highest gross sales registered for a single race day, PRCI also posted a five-day record gross of P170.8 million on Dec. 24, 26, 27, 28 and 29 – a marked increase from the previous five-day high of P158 million, which was also set by PRCI just three weeks ago.

Highlight of last Sunday’s record-setting card was the much-awaited rematch between Wind Blown and Free Wind in the 2002 Philracom Open Classic Championship, won in dramatic fashion by the famed Wind Blown, which reclaimed his title as the country’s most dominant galloper and runaway choice as Horse of the Year.

"We are thankful for the generous support extended by the ‘bayang karerista’ and all the racing sectors to the programs of PRCI for the 2002 racing season and we are hopeful that such support would continue as we face yet another promising year in this vibrant sport-industry," said PRCI executive vice president and chief operating officer Ramon Ereñeta, Jr.

PRCI has consistently been the industry’s top seller for the past five years and was estimated to have generated more than P3 billion in total sales for 2002, which translates to more than P500 million in direct revenue contribution to the national coffers.