Philippine Racing Club
A Philippine horse-racing institution founded as the Santa Ana Turf Club in 1937.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Philippine Racing Club, Inc. (PRC) is a Philippine horse-racing institution whose history began in 1937 under the name Santa Ana Turf Club. It was organized in Makati during the Commonwealth period by Filipino and American businessmen as a rival to the Manila Jockey Club. The club introduced thoroughbred-style racing in the Philippines and was established partly to encourage the use and breeding of higher-quality horses for racing. The organization’s early activities were connected with the development of organized horse racing and the promotion of local horse breeding. In 1939, Commonwealth Act No. 156 incorporated the Philippine Tuberculosis Society into the holding of annual National Grand Derby races, an arrangement intended to support the breeding of native Philippine horses. Racing operations were suspended during the Japanese occupation in the Second World War and resumed in 1946. In 1947, ownership passed to the Reyes family under the leadership of Don Aurelio Parungao Reyes, known as Oreng, who served as president until his death in 1972. After his death, his widow, Antonia Reyes, assumed operational responsibility. Around this period, the Santa Ana Turf Club adopted the name Philippine Racing Club. The club received a 25-year franchise under Republic Act No. 6632 in 1972 to operate a racetrack and conduct horse races. Its franchise was extended for a further 25 years in 1995. A major strategic shift began in the 1990s. New management took over in 1994, and in 1996 the club acquired a 147-hectare property in Naic, Cavite for the eventual relocation of its racing facilities. PRC entered into a joint venture with Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation concerning the property. Racing continued at the historic Santa Ana site in Makati until 2008, when the club held its final year of racing there. In 2009, PRC and the Santa Ana Park racetrack operations moved to the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, where the Santa Ana Park racetrack was established. In 2011, the club entered into another development agreement, this time with Ayala Land and its subsidiary Alveo Land, relating to the former Makati property. That site was subsequently redeveloped as Circuit Makati, which opened in 2013. PRC has been a member of the Philippine Racing Commission, the national regulatory body associated with Philippine horse racing. Reference material describes the club as one of the country’s principal racing organizations alongside the Manila Jockey Club and Metro Manila Turf Club, with the Philippine Jockey Club also identified as a newer entrant. In August 2022, the operator of Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park announced that it would discontinue its horse-racing business in November while focusing on real-estate development. The available reference material does not establish the club’s precise current operating status after that announcement.
History
The Philippine Racing Club traces its origins to 1937, when Filipino and American businessmen organized the Santa Ana Turf Club in Makati during the early Commonwealth era. The new organization competed with the Manila Jockey Club and became associated with thoroughbred-style racing, an approach that emphasized the use of horses bred for racing quality. Its formation contributed to the institutionalization of horse racing as an organized sporting and breeding activity in the Philippines. A related development came in 1939, when Commonwealth Act No. 156 provided for the participation of the Philippine Tuberculosis Society in annual National Grand Derby races. The measure was intended in part to encourage the breeding of local or native horses. Racing was interrupted during the Japanese occupation in the Second World War, but activities resumed in 1946 after the conflict. In 1947, control of the club moved to the Reyes family. Don Aurelio Parungao Reyes, commonly known as Oreng, led the organization as president until his death in 1972. His widow, Antonia Reyes, subsequently took over operations, and the Santa Ana Turf Club was renamed the Philippine Racing Club. That same year, Republic Act No. 6632 granted the organization a 25-year franchise to operate a racetrack and conduct horse races. The franchise was later extended for another 25 years in 1995. Management changed in 1994. PRC then began preparing for a substantial geographical and operational transition. In 1996, it acquired a 147-hectare property in Naic, Cavite, intended to accommodate a future relocation of the Santa Ana racetrack. The club formed a joint venture with Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation concerning the development of the property. The Makati era ended in 2008, when PRC conducted its final year of racing activities at the original Santa Ana site. In 2009, racing operations moved to the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite, where the Santa Ana Park racetrack became the club’s new operating location. The move connected the racing organization with a broader leisure and property-development setting. The former Makati site also acquired a new purpose. In 2011, PRC entered into a joint venture with Ayala Land and its subsidiary Alveo Land for development of the property. The resulting project became Circuit Makati, which opened in 2013 and represented the transformation of the former racetrack area into a mixed-use urban destination. PRC has been affiliated with the Philippine Racing Commission and has been identified as one of the country’s established racing clubs. In August 2022, the operator of Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park announced plans to discontinue its horse-racing business in November and focus on real-estate development. The available reference material does not provide enough information to determine whether PRC continues to operate as a racing organization, has fully ceased racing activities, or retains another corporate role.
- 2022
Planned withdrawal from horse racing is announced
[1]Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park announces that it will end its horse-racing business in November and emphasize real-estate development.
- 2013
Circuit Makati opens
[1]The former racetrack property is redeveloped as Circuit Makati, which opens as a new urban development.
- 2011
Ayala Land development joint venture begins
[1]PRC enters a joint venture with Ayala Land and Alveo Land for redevelopment of the former Makati property.
- 2009
Operations move to Naic
[1]PRC transfers its operations and Santa Ana Park racetrack activities to Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.
- 2008
Final racing year in Makati
[1]PRC conducts its final year of horse-racing activities at the Makati site.
- 1996
Naic property is acquired
[1]PRC acquires a 147-hectare property in Naic, Cavite for a planned racetrack relocation and enters a development joint venture with Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation.
- 1995
Racing franchise is extended
[1]The club’s racing franchise is extended for another 25 years.
- 1994
New management takes over
[1]A new management team assumes responsibility for PRC operations.
- 1972
Club receives a statutory racing franchise
[1]Republic Act No. 6632 grants the organization a 25-year franchise to operate a racetrack and conduct horse races. The club is also renamed the Philippine Racing Club around this period.
- 1947
Reyes family assumes ownership
[1]Ownership transfers to the Reyes family, led by Don Aurelio Parungao Reyes.
Products and positioning
A historically significant Philippine racing institution that evolved from a Makati thoroughbred-racing club into a Naic-based racetrack and leisure-property organization, with later emphasis on real-estate development.
Horse-racing venue · 1937
Santa Ana Park
Santa Ana Park is the racetrack associated with the Philippine Racing Club. The original facility operated in Makati until the club’s final racing year there in 2008. In 2009, the racetrack operations moved to the club’s Naic, Cavite location at Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park. The name therefore covers both the historic Makati racing venue and the later Naic-based operation.
Sporting events · 1937
Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred-style horse racing was a defining activity of the organization from its beginnings as the Santa Ana Turf Club. PRC organized and hosted horse races as a licensed Philippine racing institution and participated in the country’s regulated racing system through membership in the Philippine Racing Commission. The available material does not specify the current schedule or whether racing continues after the 2022 withdrawal announcement.
Horse-racing events · 1939
National Grand Derby races
The National Grand Derby was an annual racing event connected through Commonwealth Act No. 156 with the Philippine Tuberculosis Society. The arrangement was intended to support the promotion and breeding of local or native Philippine horses. The supplied reference does not establish the event’s present status or provide a complete list of editions.
Brand decisions
2022
Plan to discontinue horse-racing operationsStrategyBackground
Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park announced a change in business emphasis while PRC’s racing operation was based at the Naic site.
Action taken
The park announced that it would drop its horse-racing business in November and focus on real-estate development.
Aftermath
The supplied material does not clarify whether PRC subsequently ceased all racing activity, continued under another arrangement, or retained a non-racing corporate role.
2011
Partner with Ayala Land on Makati redevelopmentStrategyBackground
After racing activities moved away from Makati, the former racetrack property became available for a new urban development use.
Action taken
PRC entered into a joint venture with Ayala Land and its subsidiary Alveo Land to develop the former property.
Aftermath
The redevelopment later became Circuit Makati, which opened in 2013.
2009
Move Santa Ana Park operations to NaicStrategyBackground
The club ended its final year of racing at the Makati site in 2008 and had prepared a new property in Cavite.
Action taken
PRC transferred its operations and Santa Ana Park racetrack activities to Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite.
Aftermath
Naic became the club’s operating location for racing activities, while the former Makati property entered a separate redevelopment process.
1996
Acquire land for racetrack relocationStrategyBackground
The club sought a future alternative to its established Makati location and acquired a 147-hectare property in Naic, Cavite.
Action taken
PRC acquired the Naic property and entered a joint venture with Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation for its development.
Aftermath
The acquisition preceded the eventual transfer of racing operations from Makati to Naic in 2009.
Recent events
- 2022
Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park announces planned end of horse-racing business[1]
Other
In August 2022, Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park announced that it would drop its horse-racing business in November and concentrate on real-estate development.
- 2013
Circuit Makati opens on former Philippine Racing Club property[1]
Other
The redevelopment of the former Santa Ana racetrack site in Makati opened as Circuit Makati following the property-development partnership involving Ayala Land and Alveo Land.
- 2011
Philippine Racing Club enters property-development agreement with Ayala Land[1]
M&A
PRC entered into a joint venture with Ayala Land and its subsidiary Alveo Land for development of the former Makati property. The site later became Circuit Makati.
- 2009
Philippine Racing Club relocates racing operations from Makati to Naic[1]
Other
The club transferred its operations and Santa Ana Park racetrack activities to the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park in Naic, Cavite after ending racing at its long-standing Makati site.
Sources1 sources
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