Horse racing through San Juan's streets was one of the highlights of the fiesta in honor of St Peter and Saint Paul, in Cristo Street. At that time, the street was not paved, it was almost in natural state, sand only in some places, clay and holes in others and a steep decline at the area close to the Convent of The Carmelite Sisters. At the south end it ended in the city wall, high above the jail below( now the Carcel de La Princesa).

The riders would group in front of the wall and would race up the street towards the Dominican Convent.Once there they would turn and head down the street towards their starting point.

Some of the racers would speed more than prudently to see who would be first to the wall. Baltasar Montañez, a young racer, failed to turn and brake his horse and plunged to the precipice over the wall. Legend has it that the Governor's secretary, General Tomas Mateo Prats cried aloud to the Christ of Health to save him...The horse hit the rocks at the bottom of the wall but Baltasar was miraculously saved and the chapel was built in thanksgiving.General Prats, very pious and devout directed the construction of the chapel with the aproval of the governor and the Bishop. and placed there a beautiful picture of The Christ of Health. It was said that the image performed many other miracles through the years.Tha chapel was built in 1753..

Through the glass doors visitors can see the beautiful silver altar said to have been made from the ex-votos placed there by the faithful. The chapel is open only on Tuesdays from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. A special mass to honor Santo Cristo de la Salud is celebrated at the chapel on the first Sunday of August and special masses are held during Holy Week.

Old San Juan