MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) suspended three erring jockeys for one year for their questionable performances in various stakes races last July.
Jockeys Jerome Saulog, Dahlwill Pagar and Maximillian Pichay were slapped with the stiff suspensions as part of the Philracom’s mandate to keep the races fair and clean.
“This is for the protection of the betting public,” said Philracom chairman Andrew Sanchez. “As a new member of the IFHA (International Federation of Horseracing Authorities), the Philracom wants to make sure that horseracing in the Philippines is held at the highest level.”
Saulog was initially handed a 72-racing day suspension by the Manila Jockey Club Inc.’s Board of Stewards for his questionable performance atop Fly Like an Eagle last July 22 at San Lazaro Leisure Park.
“Jockeys should be reminded of their crucial role in the racing industry. As one of the stakeholders and main players, the performance of the jockeys should be beyond reproach and free from any doubt to protect the horseracing industry,” according to the Philracom decision.
A probe by the Philracom followed and in a decision handed last Aug. 9, the commission found out that a mere review of the video of the race showed that the actions of Saulog constituted a violation of the Rules and Regulations of Horse Racing PR 76.QQ, which states that “for deliberately losing the race either by easing, pulling and/or stopping his mount without any justifiable reason at any point in the race, wherein the Board of Stewards determines that the horse still has a chance of winning the race: One-year suspension and the horse shall be elevated to the next higher group.”
Saulog’s act of not urging and whipping the horse at the crucial parts of the race and merely holding the reins and/or pulling the same demonstrate his intention to lose the race. Saulog was successful in doing so as the horse finished second in the race.