Humirit ng kasaysayan ang Philippine Racing Commission matapos kilalanin bilang bagong miyembro ng pamosong International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

Ikinalugod ng Philracom board, sa pangunguna nina Chairman Andrew Sanchez, Commissioner Bienvenido Niles Jr. at executive director Andrew Buencamino, ang pagtanggap ng IFHA sa Commission bilang respetadong regulatory body sa horseracing sa Pilipinas.

Ipinahayag ng IFHA ang pagkilala sa Philracom sa isinagawang 50th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities kamakailan sa Paris.

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“We were officially accepted in their executive council meeting in April of this year, and we had to present to them during this Paris conference facts about the Philracom, how we run our races here, and they were quite impressed,” pahayag ni Niles.

Ayon kay Commissioner Niles, ang pagkilala ng IFHA sa Philracom “will make sure that horseracing in the Philippines is held at the highest level.”

“Race owners are very excited because they know this will open new avenues for them. At the same time, this will ensure that Philippine racing will move towards globalization,” pahayag ni Niles, patungkol sa pagkakataon para sa mga premyadong thoroughbred ng Pilipinas ay makalahok sa international competition.

Gagabayan din ng IFHA ang programa ng Philracom para mapalakas ang sistema sa handicapping (rating) at cataloguing system.

“We have to be aligned with the drug-free environment that they are trying to promote across all of the members of the IFHA. We also have to align with their handicapping system. We will need to get guidance from them in terms of how our horses can be rated, aligned with the norms and standard of international racing,” sambit ni Niles.

Aniya, ang epektibong sistema at programa sa Philracom ay magbibigay ng karagdagang benepisyo sa industriya, gayundin sa pagpapataas ng koleksiyon sa buwis na magagamit ng mga mamamayan.

“Once we do this, we can be sure that people will have confidence na 'yung mga kabayo are safe to bet on, they're healthy, walang gamot, competitive. They will know that the handicapping is balanced para the races will be exciting.

I think if we can do that, 'yung mga bettors natin will be happy,” aniya.

Sinabi naman ni Buencamino, isang veterinarian, na ang pagiging miyembro ng Pilipinas sa IFHA ay makasisiguro na makukuha ng bansa ang modernong sistema at pinakamagong teknolohiya para sa kaunlaran ng industriya.

“There is a committee on IFHA on horse welfare. If there's anything that we need, they can provide us with technical advise. Normally naman, there's a lot of sharing among members, so if there is a disease that is unique to a certain country, they let us know the treatments that are used,” ayon kay Buencamino.