Construction of new San Lazaro racetrack starts

The Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJCI), the pioneer race club in the Far East, officially signaled the full-scale development of the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite following the recent ground breaking and capsule laying activities for its new Turf Club Building.

The MJCI Turf Club Building and the in-progress all-weather race track is at the core of the San Lazaro Leisure Park complex, a 77-hectare fully-integrated horse racing facility that will serve as the new home of MJCI’s core racing operation starting next year.

MJCI president and chief executive officer Alfonso R. Reyno, Jr. led the ground breaking activities and was joined by Carmona Mayor Roy Loyola, Philracom chairman Jaime Dilag and other top officials from the club and the local horse racing industry.

"We are honored to present to our industry partners the future home of the Manila Jockey Club as well as our plans and programs to further boost the prestige and reputation of the club as a world-class and fully-diversified company," Reyno said.

The San Lazaro Leisure Park is being developed as an integrated horse racing complex that blends world-class sports and entertainment facilities with an upscale residential subdivision.

Situated across Southwoods Golf & Country Club, the San Lazaro Leisure Park was designed by the renowned Recio & Casas Architects and is being developed by a group of contractors led by Jose Aliling & Associates, Piedras Negras Construction & Development Corp. and Marcbuilt Construction, Inc.

The planned transfer of MJCI’s racing operations to Carmona, Cavite during the first quarter of 2003 will be implemented simultaneous with the redevelopment of the club’s 16-hectare property in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The redevelopment will start off with the construction of a SM super mall by SM Prime, which will occupy four hectares of the property. The remaining 12 hectares will be developed into a mix-use commercial and residential complex.