Mayor Bagatsing Cup among top grossers

MANILA, Philippines – Racking up nearly P41 million in Sunday betting handle, the seventh Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Sr. Racing Festival is among the year’s top-grossing horseracing events anew.

The event, held annually to commemorate the late Manila mayor and avid horseman, was held Aug. 29-30 at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park and attracted some of the top runners.

Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos’s filly Gentle Strength won the Philracom-Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Sr. Cup (Div. 1) via photo finish over 1,750 meters.

Top choice Cat’s Diamond owned by Marlon Cunanan prevailed in the 1,500-meter Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Cup (Div. I).

In the Resorts World Manila Challenge to Champions Cup, favorite Low Profile crafted an easy victory over five others and won pulling away down the stretch.

Event co-founders Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing and Philippine Racing commissioner Ramon Bagatsing Jr., sons of the late mayor, thanked all the sponsors participants, and spectators for making the festival a success.

“We conceived of  this event,” said Rep. Bagatsing, “as our way of giving back to racing in a tangible way, by providing a prestigious venue for competition and generous purses as incentives for the participants.”

This is the richest edition of the festival, with P8.5 million in prizes for 18 out of 25 races for the weekend. Sponsored trophy races with additional prizes were also held Aug. 29.

The event was the first to give recognition to the grooms, an often-overlooked sector of the racing community. This year, the Bagatsings gave P3,000 cash to the winning grooms of the five Saturday trophy races and P6,500 to the winning grooms of the 13 Sunday races, plus gift packages.

The event’s other backers were Solaire Resort and Casino, San Miguel Corporation, Midas Hotel and Casino, Genting Club, City of Dreams, (Premiere Leisure and Amusement Co.), Stradcom, Pasay City Mayor Eduardo Calixto, Smart Communication, Marho, DLTB Co., Philtobo, EEG Development Corp., Fundador, Red Bull, Bingson Tecson, Al Tengco, and Nukaza Trading.