By Jenny Ortuoste
In view of the community spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the rising number of confirmed cases, the Philippine Racing Commission released a memorandum on Thursday urging the public to watch and bet on horse races at off-track betting stations (OTBs) and not the racetracks.
In this file photo, Victorious Colt sprints to the finish for a five-length win in the third and final leg of the Philracom Triple Crown series.
The memorandum signed by Philracom Executive Director veterinarian Andrew M. Buencamino states that effective March 17, “all races shall continue as scheduled unless otherwise cancelled by the racing clubs with the approval of the Commission.”
The agency, which regulates and supervises professional horse racing, also directed the racing club management, through their racing managers, to “restrain the entry of all racing aficionados/bettors (live audience) inside the club premises, particularly in the grandstand and betting areas.”
Philracom advised fans and bettors to “proceed to the nearby OTB stations.”
Also according to the memo, during race days, only employees and officials of the racing club who are involved in the conduct of the races, including “Philracom officials and FID (Field Inspection Division) personnel, and Philracom licensees such as jockeys, trainers, horseowners, and grooms with horses participating in the races, shall be allowed access within the club premises.”
The agency also required racing clubs to “ensure the necessary precautions to prevent, contain, and mitigate the possible transmission of COVID-19 in workplaces in accordance with the general preventive measures by the DOH (Department of Health).”
The Philracom Board also said they would release updates on this situation “subject to the duration of the state of public health emergency’ declared by President Duterte last Monday (March 9).
Meanwhile, according to Santa Ana Park Racing Manager Antonio B. Alcasid Jr., the instruction to bar a live audience does not greatly impact their sales because only four to five percent of their total sales come from in-track attendance.
He estimates that the situation is similar for the other two racing clubs, Manila Jockey Club and Metro Manila Turf Club, with the former enjoying slightly higher in-track sales.
“The COVID hasn’t really affected us, things are just the same,” he said. “People are still betting.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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