View source for The Horsemen's Track

{{Short description|Horse racing complex in Batangas, Philippines}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox Racecourse
|Name = The Horsemen's Track
|Image =
|Location = [[Padre Garcia]], [[Batangas]], [[Philippines]]
| coordinates  =
|Owner = Hapi Jockey Club
|Channel =
|Opened = 2024
|CourseType =
|Website =
|NotableRaces =
}}
'''The Horsemen's Track''' is a [[horse racing]] complex under construction in [[Padre Garcia]], [[Batangas]], [[Philippines]]. It is owned and to be operated by the Hapi Jockey Club.
==Background==
The construction of The Horsemen's Track was followed by the granting of a 25-year franchise to the Hapi Jockey Club, Inc. (HJCI) by the Philippine government through Republic Act 11649 which took effect in March 2022. The franchise allowed the jockey club to operate race tracks in Batangas, Laguna and Cavite. Groundbreaking for The Horsemen's Track in [[Padre Garcia]], [[Batangas]] took place on May 3, 2022.<ref name=torise>{{cite news |title=Modern racetrack to rise in Padre Garcia |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2022/05/14/2181039/modern-racetrack-rise-padre-garcia |access-date=14 May 2022 |work=The Philippine Star |date=14 May 2022}}</ref> The venue is projected to open in 2024.<ref name=horse-racing2>{{cite news |last1=Castillo |first1=Musong |title=Horse racing gets boost with fourth racetrack to rise in Batangas |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/461735/horse-racing-gets-boost-with-fourth-racetrack-to-rise-in-batangas |access-date=14 May 2022 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=12 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
On February 8, 2024, the “Philippine Jockey Club,” in a welcome [[ceremony]], announced the [[investment]] of [[Leyte (province)|Leyte]] Vice-Governor, [[Andok's]]'s owner, Leonardo M. Javier Jr and wife [[Leyte's 2nd congressional district]], Congresswoman [[Lolita Javier]]. The landmark event was graced by HJCI Chairman Oliver “Jojo” Velasquez, HJCI Vice Chairman-Treasurer Engr. Elmer de Leon, HJCI President Raymond Puyat and HJCI Corporate Secretary-Director Manny Viray.<ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Javier invests in PH Jockey Club|url= https://www.manilastandard.net/sports/314414871/javier-invests-in-ph-jockey-club.html|accessdate=May 22, 2024 |publisher=[[Manila Standard]] |date=February 9, 2024}}</ref>
Philippine Jockey Club Director, Manny Viray, a [[Thoroughbred|bloodstock agent]] confirmed that the owners group invested £13.56m/€15.87m to fund the initial phase of the [[Race track|sand-based racecourse]]. It is set to open in the last quarter of 2024 or as early as October. It can accept 1,400 horses in [[Animal training|training]], with 1,200 boxes. From 2017, Philippine horse owners bought [[Magic Millions]] National Yearling Sale's 86 horses at A$1,729,000 (£908,000/€1,060,000) and 46 horses at A$2,028,500 in the 2YOs Training Sales. Equine International Airfreight delivered these animals to the Philippines.<ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=New racecourse in Philippines just months away from lift-off in much-needed boost to Asian racing scene|url=https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/news/international/new-racecourse-in-philippines-just-months-away-from-lift-off-in-much-needed-boost-to-asian-racing-scene-aILfU6Y6oB8m/ |accessdate=May 22, 2024 |publisher=[[Racing Post]] |date=May 20, 2024}}</ref>
==Facilities==
The Horsemen's Track will be patterned after the [[Churchill Downs]] in [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], United States which will reportedly be a departure from other race tracks in the Philippines. The twin oval track will have a length of {{convert|1,600|m|ft|sp=us}}, a tunnel, as well as a gallery for spectators. It will be built on a {{convert|50|ha|acre}} land.<ref name=horse-racing2/> [[Manila Jockey Club]] leases its [[San Lazaro Leisure Park]] horse racing facilities in [[Carmona, Cavite]], to Hapi Jockey Club Inc. (HJCI)<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://business.inquirer.net/362102/manila-jockey-to-lease-out-cavite-horse-racing-facility | title= Manila Jockey to lease out Cavite horse racing facility|first=|last=|website=|date=September 13, 2022 }}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{coord missing|Philippines}}
[[Category:Horse racing venues in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Sports in Batangas]]
[[Category:Horse racing in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Batangas]]
[[Category:Sports complexes in the Philippines]]