While attending the Kentucky Derby earlier this year, I had the pleasure of speaking with Patricio Azcuy, Director of Horse Racing for the Philippines and one of the most passionate horse fans I’ve ever met. We discussed the state of horse racing in his country and what needs to be done to grow the sport there.
Horse racing in the Phillipines is technically illegal. The country’s constitution bans the practice, and the government doesn’t recognize it as an official sport. Still, it’s practiced throughout the country because the culture around horses is so strong and because there aren’t many other options for entertainment. It’s basically a combination of jockeys, cars and dogs who live for racing. Many people there see horses as a way of life and a way to provide for their families.
Even though it’s illegal, there are no regulations stopping anyone from running a horse race. The lack of government oversight has enabled some very shady characters to take advantage of the situation and perform unethical activities. There are also cases of racehorses being stolen and not being properly cared for. Illegal betting is also extremely common because there’s no way of knowing exactly how many races take place each year. Many of the remote islands in the country lack access to reliable forms of electricity, so people often have to rely on boneless phones and lanterns to watch the races that are streamed online.
The Need For Legitimacy
You might be wondering why the Phillipines needs legitimacy when it comes to horse racing. The short answer is that they don’t. The longer answer is that it’s complicated. The sport is technically illegal, and the government doesn’t officially recognize it, but they also don’t really care. Without any governing body, there are no regulations and no minimum standards of conduct. This has enabled some pretty sleazy people to get involved, leading to all sorts of problems.
The situation is made even more complicated because it’s not just a single issue. The country is full of different factions who all have their own opinions on how the sport should be run and what should be done to improve it. For instance, some people think that horse racing promotes gambling and is therefore bad for the country. Others think that it’s an important source of income and a way for the rural population to enjoy themselves.
Regardless, the situation is incredibly frustrating for those trying to make the sport legitimate. To begin with, there needs to be some form of recognition from the government, either legal or semi-legal. Next, there needs to be a governing body in place to establish rules and regulations and to make sure that those rules are being followed. Finally, there needs to be someone responsible for making sure that all the issues above are being taken care of. The lack of any kind of governing body means that it’s left to individuals to set standards, which can lead to all sorts of problems. For example, someone could start a Greyhound-racing club and begin to use the dogs as a source of income, ignoring the fact that it’s illegal to use a dog as a racing horse.
A Look To The Future
As mentioned above, without a governing body, there are no rules or regulations. This has opened up the door for a wide array of problems, all of which could potentially be solved by the creation of a legitimate governing body. Once that’s in place, it would be a lot easier to address the issue of illegal betting and other problems that arise from the lack of oversight. It might also be a good idea to create some sort of registry for all the races that are taking place so that everyone knows exactly how many there are and who’s running them. This could help prevent some of the shady activity that goes on because people don’t know the rules or who’s allowed to participate. It could also help authorities figure out if any races are being fixed or if there’s any corruption involved. All of these things are much easier to address when there’s some sort of formal structure in place.