MJCI upgrades server; races on tap next week

The Manila Jockey Club will resume its races at the San Lazaro Leisure Park next week after a massive upgrading of its server that computes the wagers for its betting system.

Atty. Alfonso Reyno, MJCI president, said yesterday that the country’s premier horseracing club spent $350,000 or roughly P15 million for this “permanent improvement.”

He said the MJCI has entered into a new agreement with United Tote, a US company that manufactures and sells totalizators worldwide, including Churchill Downs.

“In addition to our presently owned 210 Versa terminals and system, MJCI acquired 110 additional Versa terminals with an option to acquire 100 of the latest terminals,” he said.

But he said the MJCI is parting ways with Global Versatech, Inc. (VGI), the local service provider, and will instead run the program with an in-house technical group.

“We can even save by doing this because VGI is charging us too much. It has become unreasonable,” said Reyno. “What we’re doing is for the industry, the betting public, the country.”

Because of the changes, races at the SLLP over the last two days were cancelled and moved to the Santa Ana in Makati from the MJCI-ran racetrack in Carmona, Cavite.

“When it comes to computer upgrading, we want to make sure. What’s one week of cancellation of the races at San Lazaro if it’s for a permanent improvement?” said Reyno.

“To do all these, it needs a few days to accomplish them. The MJCI has therefore agreed with Philracom to hold this week’s remaining races at Santa Ana Park.”