Just recently, a veteran and multi-titled race-horse trainer quietly left for the United States to settle there for good. But he left with a heavy heart knowing the plight of our local trainers.
Dr. Antonio Alcasid, one of the best race-horse trainers the country has ever produced, left with his wife Gloria for New York where they will be staying for good with one of their elder daughters.
But Alcasid, in a talk with this writer over the phone a day before he left, said that “I would like to see the day when trainers have already upped their level of professionalism.”
“Maraming trainers tayo ngayon na magagaling pero hindi ma-maximize ‘yung kagalingan dahil ang mga nasusunod ay ‘yung owners. Owners’ base ang ating industriya ng karera dito, hindi kagaya sa malalaking karerahan sa mundo na trainers’ base. Ang trainer ang dapat na masunod sa itatakbo ng kabayo hindi ang owner. Wala naman kasi tayong magawa dahil na rin sa klase ng handicapping system natin. Imbes na maipakita ang galing nu’ng kabayo natututo silang magpababa ng grupo at ipatalo ayon na rin sa kagustuhan ng mga owners. That’s sad,” said the 67-year-old Alcasid, who trained some of the country’s finest horses such as the legendary Fair N’ Square, Fiorella, Little Morning, Gypsy Grey, Time Master and Magic Showtime, among others.
His Fair N’ Square was the first Triple Crown champion in 1981 and also the first back-to-back champion of the Presidential Gold Cup in 1981 and 1982.
He also saddled several Triple Crown leg winners such as Dino’s Dream (2nd leg winner) in 1994, West Bound (1st and 2nd leg winner) in 2003, and Cover Girl (1st leg winner) in 2004. Even before he left for the US, Alcasid still left a big mark in the industry when his dark horse Mr. Victory staged a monumental upset in winning the third and final leg of the Triple Crown this year.
“Lahat ng mga kabayo ko inilagay na sa ibang pangalan. ‘Yung iba naman nasa pangangalaga na ng assistant ko na si Robert Rayat habang ang iba naman ay ibinigay na sa ibang trainers tulad nina Rey Henson at RD Tanagon. It’s about time that my assistant trainer, Robert Rayat, be given the recognition he deserves. He’s applying for a regular trainer (status) now,” Alcasid added.
He is also one of Hermie Esguerra’s leading trainers and is handling the likes of promising horses such as Golden Sutter (who won the recent PCSO Special Maiden Race), Landed Visa, Hear Me, and Cash Feeder, among others.
What will he do in the US? Alcasid said that they will settle there for good. “Ang sabi nga ng anak naming si Gigi na nurse doon sa New York, eh kailan pa daw ba kami mag-eenjoy eh matanda na kami? We might venture into some businessess there. Hindi ko pa alam. But definitely not on horseracing anymore.”
Dr. Alcasid has six children that include a professional jockey, Antonio “Oyet” Alcasid Jr., the third and oldest among the boys. His eldest is Irma who works in a Japanese firm in Canlubang, while the fourth, Michael, is a doctor. The fifth is Gary who works for a call center here in Manila while the youngest is Philip who inherits the job of maintaining the stable owned by his dad right beside the Sta. Ana Park racetrack.
With his departure, Alcasid certainly leaves a big vacuum in the local horseracing industry and this will be a big challenge to all those who remain in the system. How the others will suit up for the challenge will be seen in the near future.
[...] Ace Pinoy horse racing trainer leaves with a heavy heart [...]