The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), in partnership with the Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM), recently staged three banner racing events at the Metroturf Racing Club Complex in Malvar–Tanauan City, Batangas: the 2025 PHILRACOM-PCSO Grand Derby, the Klub Don Juan de Manila Racing Festival, and the A.P. Reyes Cup 3YO Imported/Local Challenge 1. The triple treat put the spotlight on the country’s finest thoroughbreds, horsemen, and racing connections.
In the Grand Derby Race, crowd favorite “Parade King” edged out “He’s So Fine” by a nose in what was described as the most exhilarating finish of the day. The victory gave Rancho Sta. Rosa a champion’s purse of ₱1.8 million, with veteran trainer Ruben Tupas and jockey John Paul Guce earning top honors in their respective categories. Melaine Habla was also cited as the champion breeder, completing the winning team’s sweep of accolades.
The Klub Don Juan de Manila Race was just as exciting, with “Lady Outlaw” storming home to victory for owner Gabriel Gaerlan. The winning run was engineered by trainer Dante Salazar and jockey Ryan Garcia, who steered the filly to an impressive performance against a highly competitive field.
For this leg of the program, PCSO sponsored ₱500,000, underscoring its continued support for the local horse racing industry and its stakeholders.
Capping the day’s festivities, the A.P. Reyes Cup crowned “Morally” as the undisputed champion, bagging ₱900,000 in winnings. The undefeated runner, also owned by Gabriel Gaerlan, was trained by Ernesto Roxas and ridden by jockey Mark Alvarez, both were recognized for their outstanding work in preparing and piloting the horse to victory.
p style="text-align: justify;">In his message, PCSO General Manager Mel Robles lauded the robust participation of owners, trainers, jockeys, and racing fans, noting that these partnerships help sustain the sport while supporting PCSO’s charity mandate. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to backing the horse racing industry throughout his term, emphasizing that every successful race day contributes to PCSO’s mission of raising funds for health and welfare programs nationwide.