Worried that removing daily double and extra double betting schemes would result in a reduction in the gross sales of the operators, the Philracom was pleasantly surprised that the opposite happened. Instead of a decrease, there was an increase in the gross sales, said Philracom official Eddie Jose.

Jose said yesterday that the scheduled nine races at San Lazaro Tuesday night earned a total of R23 million in sales, thus surpassing the regular sales of R20 million-R21 million of the Manila Jockey Club on regular Tuesday races.

The Philracom also made weekday events (Tuesday to Friday) run a total of eight races. Before this, only Fridays had nine races. Saturday and Sunday races remain the same with 13.

The raise in revenues, according to Jose, should allay earlier fears that racing sales would take a beating once the daily double (DD) and extra double (ED) schemes are phased out.

"This is a concrete proof that the Bayang Karerista continue to patronize the horseracing industry notwithstanding the bold steps the Philracom had taken," Jose said in an interview on "Racing Talk on Radio’ over Sports Radio 918.

"We expect na madagdagan pa ito in the following days since we believe marami pa sa mga Bayang Karerista ang medyo nag-alanganin pa and held on to their money last Tuesday," Jose told program hosts Benjie Castro and Benjie Sagalonggos.

He said they achieved the feat despite the shutdown of five off track betting stations owing to a reported dispute between operators and the management of the Manila Jockey Club.

"But that’s already between them (off-track) and officials of San Lazaro," said Jose.

Even long-time enthusiasts were happy with the new betting scheme.

"Mas maganda pa nga ang nangyari dahil tiyak na malilimitahan na ang mga lokohan sa loob. Kung sa doubles and extra double kasi pwede mayari ang karera, basta nakadehado ka na sa una," said a regular off-track bettor.

Aside from curving the proliferation of bookies, Philracom also wants to raise the standard of racing in the country.

He said bookies had long been thriving on DD, a system of betting which, according to Jose, is endemic only in the Philippines.

Apart from the DD and ED, the other kind of bettings are winner, forecast (exacta), trifecta, quartet, pentafecta, super six, Pick Six and Pick Five and winner-take-all.

Jose said the new betting scheme will run for a certain period only before the Philracom sits again with the major racing bodies — the Metropolitan Association of Race Horse Owners Inc. (MARHO), Philippine Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Organization (PHILTOBO), Klub Don Juan and racing clubs Philippine Racing Club Inc. and Manila Jockey Club — to assess the situation.