As one of the oldest racing clubs still existing in the Asia-Pacific region, the Manila Jockey Club was established in 1867[1] by Governor General José de la Gándara y Navarro along with about 100 people from Spanish, American and Filipino clans from Manila.

[2] Initially, the club founded in Quiapo, held races that were only for recreation purposes where no betting is involved.

[3] By the 1880s, the club moved out of Quiapo which was then becoming a commercial and residential hub for business tycoon to a rice field along the Pasig River in then-rural Santa Mesa which was rented from the Tuason family.

[3] Following the Pact of Biak-na-Bato signing in 1897, the MJC organized the Gran Copa de Manila a horse race which was later cancelled due to Battle of Manila Bay which led to the end of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

The property was bought by the MJC in 1912 and a new grandstand and six-furlong turf track were built after the purchase.

Members of the club regained control over their facility in March 1946 and within two months after reconstruction efforts, the San Lazaro Hippodrome resumed operations.