The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-06-13
THE RACES.
The Annual Event Well A.
fenced
A Big Crowd Watches the Antics
of the Fa orites and the Deci-
sions of the Judges.

Our reporter arrived in time, and
he left when the races were over.
When passing through the gate on
his homeward-bound journey he
overheard the following remarks:
"The best races ever seen here"
(From the winners.)
"The most rotten races ever ex-
perienced." (From the losers.)
Under the circumstances he de-
cided to give his own unbiased opin-
ion, being neither a winner nor a
loser, but simply an everyday fair,
honest admirer Of good racing Of
good horses.
The day was beautiful. The sun
did not burn the spectators, being
yelled by mild and harmless clouds.
Zephyr sent small branch breeze
which acted as an electric fan and
did not stir up the dust The track
was in good condition. The boys
needed no refreshments, and, as a
matter of fact, happy colony was
temporarily planted on the histori-
cal plain Of the Kapiolani Park.
The members and guests of the
Jockey Club had jolly time, and
the welcome of the Club to friends
was sincere and illustrated In a
practical manner. The private
stands we're occupied by parties Of
the owners who thoroughly enjoyed
their visit to the meet.
The competency Of the judges
should not be criticized, but the
general opinion is that they could
learn great deal more about rules
before deciding at the next meet.
The rules in regard to the drop
ping Of the flag" are well-known to
Mr. Wilson, the best starter ever
seen in Honolulu and who acted as
a judge on Saturday. When the
alag drops" it is race. The judges
are not starters put simply there to
watch and decide in regard to any
foul or fraud during the run after
the flag dropped. The starter is
sole judge Of the starting of the
horses and even if he possibly made
an error, as a matter Of course it
cannot be rectifisd now.
In the fve.eighth mile dash for
Hawaiian breds the judges claimed
dead heat between Magnet and
Royalist and ordered the race to be
run over again. Magnet was unable
to do so and the race was given to
Royalist, and the judges declared
sail bets off"
We think that the judges made a
great mistake in admitting by infer
ence that there was any betting on
the course. Betting, that is, gam
bling, is not allowed in these ISL
ands, and semi oficial declaration
in regard to bets on our race track
is not very proper or prudent pro-
cedure.
For the benefit of those who have
INDUCED in betting we quote the
following rules which show that
under the circumstances the judges
had no right to declare bets Off
We will state here that as far as
pools" are concerned the rules do
not apply. We do not suggest for a
moment that pools are sold here
but when they were (under the rot
ten monarchy the auctioneer al,
ways stated that the payment of
pools was subject to the decision
OF the judges. If the pools which
are not sold now are delivered under
the same conditions, no pools will
be paid in the Magnet Roya
race.
In regard to private bets we hold
differently, and we deny to the
judges the right to declare bets of
except when "fraud" is in question,
We quote a few rules which prove
that only "fraud" allows the judges
to declare bets off. There was no
fraud" in the races on Saturday
Rule 25, Section l, says, in regard
to the authority of judges that
"they may declare pools and bets