Consolidation of Laws Governing Horse Races

August 22, 1935

ACT NO. 4240

AN ACT TO REVISE, AMEND, AND CONSOLIDATE ALL LAWS GOVERNING HORSE RACES, LIMIT THE SAME TO CERTAIN SPECIAL DATES, PROHIBIT ANY PERSON OR BODY OF PERSONS OTHER THAN THAT CONDUCTING A HORSE RACE FROM MAINTAINING OR USING A TOTALIZER OR SYSTEM OF BETTING OR GAMBLING ON SUCH RACE, PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION HEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. For the purpose of revising, amending, and consolidating the several acts governing horse races, Acts Numbered Fifteen hundred and thirty-seven, Fifteen hundred and ninety-nine, Eighteen hundred and four, and Thirty-nine hundred and twenty-three are hereby repealed and the following provisions are promulgated in lieu thereof.

SECTION 2. It shall be unlawful for any person or body of persons to offer, take or arrange bets on any horse race or maintain or use a totalizer or other device, method or system to bet or gamble on any horse race or profit thereby by betting or gambling in the Philippines, except for the person or body of persons duly licensed to hold horse races and on the dates hereinafter mentioned, to wit: the first Sunday of each month, legal holidays, and all Sundays in the month of February. If on any island of the Philippines only one person or body of persons is legally engaged in holding horse races, such person or body of persons may select the Sunday of the month on which to hold the horse races authorized by this Act for the first Sunday of each month.

SECTION 3. Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed in the sense of barring the offering and payment of prizes or gifts to the victors in horse races at other periods than those stated in this section, provided they be not attended by betting or the use of totalizers or other devices for winning money by horse races.

SECTION 4. Horse races shall not be held on Thursday or Friday of Holy Week; but in lieu thereof, races may be held on the Sunday next preceding and the Sunday next following said days, respectively. In case such preceding Sunday or following Sunday is a day on which horse races are permitted under this Act, or if two official holidays coincide on the same day, said races may be held on the first Sunday thereafter which is not a day on which horse races may be held legally.

SECTION 5. Horse races shall not be held, either, on May thirtieth, commonly known as Memorial Day, nor on December thirtieth, commonly known as Rizal Day; but in lieu thereof, races may be held on the Sunday next preceding the said May thirtieth and December thirtieth. In case the Sunday next preceding the said May thirtieth or December thirtieth is a day on which horse races are permitted under this Act, said races may be held on the Sunday next following the said May thirtieth or December thirtieth, respectively, not a legal day for horse races.

SECTION 6. Whenever any of the dates on which horse races for charitable purposes are permitted coincides with the date on which the race course concerned is entitled to hold races, said race course shall be authorized to hold races on the first Sunday thereafter not a legal day for horse races.

SECTION 7. In case of a violation of this Act with reference to any horse race, each of the races held on the occasion and at the place concerned shall constitute a separate offense, and the president and each of the directors and managers of the body and every person who committed such offense, shall be considered as principals thereto.

SECTION 8. Any person convicted of any violation of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand pesos or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, in the discretion of the court.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on its approval.

Approved, August 22, 1935.