The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-10-08
kAPIOLANI TRACK.
Activity Among Horsemen May
Have More Races.

Have More Races.
Considerable activity is shown
among the owners of horse-fesh, and
an effort will be made to have the
Kapiolani Park track put in condition
for racing. 1t is the intention of the
owners of blood horses to have at least
three, and, possibly, four meets each
year. In this country, where the tenn
perature never goes too high or too
low, there is no reason why there
should not be four meets.
During the days of the Monarchy,
when everything was beer and skit-
ties" the races on June 18th was the
event of the year, and no one enjoyed
it more than the Hawaiians. But of
late years, with the exception of the
races last June, interest in the meets
has lapsed and the number and quail
ity of the horses has fallen below the
old standard. The meeting last June,
the sport, and persons who have, here
tofore, taken only passing interest in
horse-flesh are now beginning to look
into things
Fully realizing the Importance of
frequent meets, they have suggested to
the Jockey Club the advisability of
change of custom, and, incidentally, to
put the track in better order Sub
scription lists have already been pre-
scented to lovers of horse-fesh, and an
effort will be made to raise sufficient
funds to put the track in first-class
condition.
1t is calculated that 81, 800 will make
the track as good as any in the States,
and to raise this sum men interested
in racing will be asked to contribute.
The Jockey Club is said to have in its
treasury about $500. The men who
have interested themselves in the mat
ter believe that the Jockey Club should
contribute that much, leaving 81 900 to
be raised outside. One-quarter of this
amount is already subscribed, and
there will be no difficulty in securing
the balance, provided the Jockey Club
shows disposition to assist. Good,
clean sport, such as has characterized
horse racing in Honolulu in the past,
should be encouraged, and there seems
to be no doubt that it will be. The
track, from the wire to the three
eighths, needs repairing very much;
from that point to the five-eighths is
as fine as can be found anywhere, but
from that point - the three-quarter
pole it is low and will require con-
siderable filling. The idea is to grade
this for a width of 40 feet, and to do
it properly will require upwards of
5000 loads of dirt Just back of the
park is quarry, where this may be
procured, and it is believed that the
Park Commissioners will give the nee
essary permission to have the soil re-
moved.
There will be in the Islands within
the next three weeks 81 horses with
records that will warrant their being
put on the track. A half-dozen of them,
known to be fast, are being negotiated
for in California by Honolulu parties,
and it is to encourage racing among
these gentlemen that the track is to be
put in perfect order. Of the number
given, it is a sure thing that all but
two will start in races. There are a
number of Creole colts on the Islands,
coming three and four years old-all
valuable animals-and it will be sug-
gested to the owners of this famous
stallion that they offer Creole purse
or cup, to be competed for by those
colts. No better way could be devised
for the encouragement of blood-horse
breeding in the Islands.
If the necessary sum is raised the
race meets will probably be arranged
for March 18th, June 18th and 18th,
July 4th and Regatta Day. In six
weeks from the time the money is rails
ed the track will be in condition for
racing. The men at the head of the
new movement are energetic, and will
leave no stone unturned to make horse
racing feature in Honolulu.