The Manila Jockey Club — the first racing club in Southeast Asia — was formed in the summer of 1867 by a group of racing aficionados led by Jose de la Gandara y Navarro, then Spanish General of the Philippines. Its original founders were from Manila’s affluent Filipino, Spanish and English families in the 19th century such as the Ayalas, Zobels, Tuazons, Elizaldes and Nietos. When it was moved from Santa Mesa to a part of the San Lazaro estate, it then became better known as the San Lazaro Hippodrome. A couple of years ago, it was once again relocated, but this time outside of Manila to a much bigger complex at Carmona, Cavite. It is now called The San Lazaro Leisure Park. What now stands on its place right on Tayuman and Felix Huertas Streets is SM City San Lazaro Mall. And behind it are two housing development projects — Celedron Park (townhouses) and Avida Towers (high-rise condominium apartments); the ongoing constructions of which are featured in the photo below. When I was a kid, the karera (races) were then held on alternate weekends at San Lazaro and the Santa Ana Hippodrome. On late Sunday afternoons, if the family wasn’t engaged in any wedding or funeral or any other social concerns, my father would sometimes take me with him to the San Lazaro racetrack, which was walking distance from where we lived. We only stayed for a couple of races and then went home in time for supper. While my father shared racing tips with his friends, I would usually indulge on either hotdogs or hamburgers and vanilla ice cream. By the time we got home, I was too full to eat anything else. It was always a fun experience whether my father won or not. Nakaka-missed talaga.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:05:14 +0000
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