WITH local horseracing steadily getting back on its feet, Philippine Racing Commission chairman Reli de Leon is aiming to tap the industry as a vehicle for international sports tourism to boost Philracom’s contribution to the national government revenues.
“Part of the Philracom’s five-year development plan is to promote local horseracing as a means for international sports tourism considering the many attractions our country has to offer,” said De Leon yesterday in the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.
“We have our famed beaches, and our people are renowned for their warm hospitality. We can package our major horseracing events to lure foreign tourists such as what they do with the Kentucky Derby in the US and the World Cup (of horseracing) in Dubai,” he said.
“At least 100,000 racing fans watched the last edition of the Kentucky Derby,” he noted of the world-famous stakes race held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.