Arquitecto and jockey Edwin Castro strongly approach the finishline to win the Clásico Derby Puertorriqueño.

The native three-year-old Arquitecto had a perfect race when advanced from the fourth place in the first half of the length and led the pack before entering the final stretch where it imposed in the 35th edition of the Derby Puertorriqueño, which at the distance of 1,700 meters was held this past Sunday May 6, introducing the first leg of the Triple Crown of our present season.

Arquitecto was conducted for the first time by Edwin Castro, who skillfully managed the pampered racer from the Rafanil stable and trainer José Dan Vélez, placing the winner fourth very early in the race untill 600 meters were left, then advancing to outperform Pasto Seco before the first meters of the final stretch.

Then in the last strech, Arquitecto was able to escape to the front until it acquired seven body lengths clocking 1:46.31 for the distance after pausing fractions for :25.26, :49.82, 1:13.80 and 1:39.48.

On second place finished Pasto Seco followed by Victoriado, Copioso, Commander Chris, Kristian Detenido, Mr. Lancelot and Bayuyito. The winner is a product of the stud Hockenheim in the native champion Coordinadora, who in her days was proclaimed Two-Year-Old of the Year, Three-Year-Old and Horse of the Year.

The Pick-6 payed $279.95 with 6 winners and $5.40 with 5. The winning digits are: 1 – 1 – 2 – 2 – 7 – 9.

Photo by Hipi-Photo.

My Favorite Spirit arrives the finishline to win the Clásico José De Diego conducted by Edwin Castro.

The three year old My Favorite Spirit was placed at the pointer since the very start and did not look back outperforming all contenders through the whole distance of 1,800 meters in the Clásico José De Diego, which in its 76th edition was held this past Sunday, April 15, at the Camarero racetrack with prizes of $69,820.

This event was dedicated to the horseracing executive Lionel Muller Fernández, who has been a leader in various entities dedicated to horseracing in the last 20 years. Present in this tribute were members of the Horseracing Board, executive managers of the operating company of Hipódromo Camarero, the Horseracing Confederation of Puerto Rico and the Horseracing Administrator, Jorge Panzardi.

My Favorite Spirit was conducted by Edwin Castro, who showed his experience as a veteran jockey while skillfully managing the racer, keeping a comfortable pace during the first 1,200 meters, which payed off in the last stretch where all competitors were left far behind with an advantage of eleven and a half lengths.

The winner is owned by Orión stable and trained by Javier González. The time clocked was 1:52.56. Second place belonged to Swan Black. Third for El Hombre Grande.

With its victory in the Clásico José De Diego, My Favorite Spirit consolidates its leadership among the imported three-year-olds, with a clear road to conquer the division championship after keeping the undefeated status on its fourth exit in Puerto Rico, including the Clásico Jorge Washington held in the past February 19.

Photo by Hipi-Photo.

The Hipódromo Camarero announced on Wednesday March 7, the launching of GanaDondeSea.com, the first online legal wagering site on the island, to offer the local residents the opportunity to place bets online for the thoroughbred horse races.

This exciting innovation joins the heritage and trust of Hipódromo Camarero with Sportech Inc, one of the largest suppliers of online “pari-mutuel” in the world with base in the United States.

The GanaDondeSea.com portal, contributing to the development of the horse racing industry in Puerto Rico, offers a modern and convenient way to the fans who use their laptops, computers, tablets or any other divec with an internet connection. This offer brings the excitement to get involved with the horse racing sport to the new generations.

“GanaDondeSea.com is the only certified website to place bets in Puerto Rico and is authorized by the Horse Racing Board in their Resolution JH-11-31 of August 15, 2011. In Camarero ,we are pleased to be able to offer to a new generation of customers in search of more convenience and flexibility, the ability to wager live on the races”, declared  Ervin Rodríguez, CEO of Hipódromo Camarero.

Rodríguez added that with the new web site GanaDondeSea.com, the local horse racing industry will be strengthen by reaching the new customers who wouldn’t possibly experience the horse races live.

GanaDondeSea.com offers many advantages to the fans in Puerto Rico, among them:

• Convenient access: Customers can access GanaDondeSea.com their computers, laptops, tablets, or any other system with an internet connection.
• Ease of use: The website is user-friendly. It even includes a video that shows beginners how to place their first bet.
• Live video: Customers may watch the local races, as well as those from the most distinguished american racetracks, such as Belmont and Aqueduct in Nueva York.
• Ease of pay: Customers shall feel secure when adding funds to their accounts using Mastercard, VISA or their local bank in Puerto Rico.
• Security: GanaDondeSea.com is operated in the name of Hipódromo Camarero by Sportech Inc, a world leader in “pari-mutuel” and Internet with base inthe United States.  

The relationship between Camarero and Sportech is not new. Sportech has offered “pari-mutuel” services, as well as systems and technology to Hipódromo Camarero for 20 years.

The Manager and Director of Interactive Products & Services, Sportech Inc, Andrew Gaughan said that “as one of the biggest suppliers of “pari-mutuels” in the world, processing more than $13 billion in wagers every year, and with a presence in over 30 countries, Sportech is pleased to extend its present relationship with Camarero to offer the portorican fans the chance to wager through internet on the horse races. We beleive that the launch of GanaDondeSea.com has the potential to introduce the horse racing sport to the new generation of customer”.

GanaDondeSea.com will offer the sport fans all types of wagers availables in the racetracks, even the Pool-Pote, in which the customers bet starting from 35 cents, while taking a chance to win the prize accumulated at the given time.

To celebrate this historic launch, and for a limited time, every new customer registered will receive a 25%* bonus in the initial deposit with no extra charge, to start the wager experience at GanaDondeSea.com.

The local publicity agency JMD Communications will be in charge of the launch of GanaDondeSea.com in the press, TV, radio, social networks and the Internet.

*Terms and conditions apply. A free deposit bonus up to $50 free of charge.

The three year old imported My Wandy’s Girl left no doubt about who is the best in her division after winning over Aracelis Baby M. in the 27th edition of the Clásico Día De La Mujer, which for the distance of 1,700 meters was held in the seventh event this past Sunday, March 4, at the Hipódromo Camarero.

My Wandy’s Girl, conducted by Edwin Castro, advanced from the third place, with 600 meters still left, while Aracelis Baby M. took the lead over Indy Warrior, attempting an escape to the front in the last fourth of a mile.

But at that moment My Wandy’s Girl ran on second on the outside, when they entered the last stretch strongly attacked Aracelis Baby M., outperforming her in the last 200 meters to distance from the rest arriving with a lead of two and a half lengths, clocking 1:48.23 for the distance of the event, which offered a price of $69,820 with the 60% reserved for the winning team.

My Wandy’s Girl, owned by the Wanda Iris stable and trained by Sammy Díaz, added her second stakes triumph of her history of 12 exits, holding 8 victories overall, three of them in this year and all of them with jockey Edwin Castro.

At the trophies ceremony, the Women’s Advocate, Mrs. Wanda Vázquez, presented the prize to the interests of My Wandy’s Girl in the company of other personalities of the horse racing field.

The Pick-6 payed $7,804.35 with six winners and $92.15 with five. Th ewinning digits were 5 – 7 – 2 – 4 – 9 – 5.

Photo by Hipi-Photo.

The three year old native Integrista added to her history her first important victory after winning the 51st edition of the Clásico Antonio R. Matos, which with a distance of 1,700 meters and a prize of $76,170 was held this past Sunday, February 26, at the Hipódromo Camarero.

Integrista, property of the Caridad stable and trained by José Miguel Jiménez, was conducted by Juan Carlos Díaz, who placed fourth during the first half of the race, while Garbosa led over Taurina and the favorite Jaleemar. Passing the 600 meters pole Díaz moved his mount strong to attack Taurina, who had already outperformed Garbosa.

When 400 meters were still left, Integrista took the pointer and left the pack behind seeing the advantage reduced by two lengths and three fourths over Milwakee Princess, who finished second when the finishline was reached. The winner clocked 1:48.33 for the distance.

This was the first stake win of the year for the Caridad stable, who took its fourth success on this same race tributed to the memory of one of the pioneers of native thoroughbred raisers in Puerto Rico.

The Pick-6 payed $360.15 with six winners and $7.90 with five. The winning combo was 5 – 6 – 4 – 10 – 7 – 6.

Photo by Hipi-Photo.

The Board of Directors of the Horse Racing Hall of Fame of Puerto Rico (SFHP, in spanish) announces the opening for the current year’s nomination season.

Jorge Colón Delgado, President of the SFHP, announces that the categories will be: Jockeys; Trainers; Owners; Promoters, Native Racers; Imported Racers; Stallions; and Brood Mares.

"Every name will have to be summitted with the proper history documentation in order to sustain the nomination", said Colón Delgado.

The nominations should be sent by e-mail to famahipismopr@yahoo.com, or by regular mail to: P.O. Box 1675, Canóvanas, P.R. 00729-1675.