Manila Jockey Club on R. Hidalgo

While the moving spirit behind the founding of the Manila Jockey Club was the incumbent Governor General, His Excellency, Jose de la Gandara y Navarro, its first president was Don Leonardo Castello who was then the president of the government’s Tribuna de Cuentas.

In the board was Don Gonzalo Tuason, a businessman who then held the other positions of Alferez Real, Regidor del Ayuntamiento, Inspector of the Bilibid Prison and an advisor of the Banco Espanol Filipino. He later became an adviser to the Governor General of the Philippines.

A “socio fundador,” or charter member, paid an entrance fee of P50, and monthly dues of P5. He was entitled to wearing a gold pin.

Organized for recreation, the club held its races once a year on a “straight-a-way course in San Sebastian Street, now known as R. Hidalgo, from San Sebastian church to Quiapo church, which was about a fourth of a mile. Then they reversed the direction, from Elizondo street along R. Hidalgo to the San Sebastian church site.”

No betting took place, and membership dues and loans from English banks funded repairs of the grandstand. ( to be continued)