Horse owner/breeder Benhur Abalos Jr. was honored multiple times in the recent 27th Philtobo Gintong Lahi Awards.
Besides securing the honor as Owner of the Year award in runaway fashion, Abalos brought home six more awards through his champion horses during the awards night held recently at the Blue Leaf Events Pavilion at Mckinley Hill Village, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
“I’m very grateful and honored for these recognition. Buong puso naming ipinagmamalaki at ibahagi sa inyo ang aming karangalan upang maghatid ng inspiration sa Philippine horse racing industry,’’ said Abalos.
The former Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government likewise saw his winning thoroughbreds earn the accolades they truly deserve. Batang Manda was named Horse of the Year and Low Profile received the Stallion of the Year award while Palauig (Champion Sprinter), El Jaleo (Champion Two-Year-Old Colt) and Open Billing (Champion Older Horse) were also honored. That’s apart from another award that Batang Manda obtained as the Champion Three-Year-Old Colt trophy.
|Sama-sama tayo sa progress ng pag-produce ng mga champion na kabayo upang makasabay tayo at lalo pang lumakas ang ating industriya. Hindi lang sa local, pati na rin sa international at para magbigay ng inspirasyon sa younger generation,” said Abalos.
For nearly two decades, the horse owner/breeder Abalos has become synonymous to success to Philippine racing industry by consistently developing a parade of champion horses in the sport of kings.
So it really came as no surprise when the former Mandaluyong City mayor was recognized as the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Horse Owner of the Year for 2024..
Abalos has produced four Presidential Gold Cup winners from his stable, the most recent of which was Batang Manda in December last year that likewise installed the latter as the PSA Horse of the Year.
Abalos first won the prestigious PGC in 2008 with jockey Kelvin Abobo followed by Hagdang Bato twice in 2012 and 2014 guided by jockey Jonathan Basco Hernandez before Batang Manda accomplished the feat again last year.
“Masuwerte ako dahil nabiyayaan ako ng magagaling na kabayo upang maka-apat akong Presidential Gold Cup, sina Ibarra, Hagdang Bato at Batang Manda,” said Abalos during the PSA Awards Night at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel early this year.
Also recognized by the PSA, the oldest media association in the country, were Batang Manda trainer Claudio Angeles and jockey Patty Dilema as well as class A rider John Alvin Guce as jockey of the year. Batang Manda was sired by Ultimate Goal and Posse Left.
“Ako’y lubos na nagpapasalamat for recognizing itong industriya ng karera, for recognizing the jockeys, the horses at sa lahat,’’ said Abalos, who significantly associated the names of his horses with Mandaluyong City’s long history of patriotism and success.
