CARMONA—The Manila Jockey Club, Inc., the country’s premier horse racing club and one of Asia’s oldest, successfully hosted the 30th edition of the Manila 10s International Rugby Festival recently at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, with the Fiji Golden Oldies leading the roster of winners.
The Golden Oldies clinched the Vets Division crown following a 19-5 win over the Extinct Volcanoes.
The Albay Bulkans captured the Shield Division title after a 17-0 whitewashing of the Subic Sharks, even as the Makati Chiefs-B bagged the Bowl Division plum following a 19-7 triumph over the Ibons.
The Manila Nomads blanked the Tush Burkeyz, 12-0, to rule the Plate Division, while the Makati Chiefs-A overpowered the Larrikins in what turned out to be the most lopsided win in the tournament, 53-0, to top the Cup Division.
MJC, represented by its VP for Marketing, Eduardo Ramirez de Arellano; and Manila 10s International Rugby Inc., represented by its Chairperson, Claire Barberis, formalized an agreement which establishes SLLP as the home of the “best social rugby tournament in the world” for the next five years.
Twenty-four teams from the Philippines, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia, Fiji, Japan, Singapore, and Taipei battled out a total of over 70 matches all within the course of two-days.
Throngs of local and international rugby fans gathered at the newly renovated SLLP multi-purpose field located at the center of the country’s only twin-racing tracks.
Field preparations were conducted as early as November, with drainage and additional groundworks also completed to improve the playing surface. The wide tournament space made possible the construction of two pitches with enough area for tents, benches, booths and other activities.
Moreover, SLLP also offers ample parking space, a 1,800-seater outdoor grandstand, VIP rooms and outdoor wash area facilities which makes it an ideal venue for the Manila 10s and other international sporting tournaments.
Apart from the rugby action, fans were also treated to a variety of food concessionaires along with various marquee sponsors who also conducted promotions and product selling.
The Manila Jockey Club was established in 1867. It is one of the oldest existing racing clubs in the Asia Pacific region. Manila Jockey Club, Inc., as a business entity, was formally incorporated in 1937.
MJC operates the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, featuring world class horse racing, gaming, and hospitality facilities.
MJC’s broadcast outfit, the San Lazaro Broadcasting Network, transmits live horse races, eight days a month, enthralling a growing number of 300,000 horse racing fans at Off-Track Betting stations every race day.
Through partnerships with the Philippines’ leading cable-television and satellite-television providers, SLBN broadcasts Manila Jockey Club races to the entire country. Each race day’s uninterrupted coverage also provides analyses, dividends, news, and special features on horse racing and other major sporting events.