Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-06-09
allan HERBERT
TELLSOF RACE
MEET IN 1872
Father of Roeing First Presi-
rent Of Hawaiian Jockey
Club; Leading Sportsman

lnasnIueh as there has been great
interest in the coming race meet at
KaD;olani Park en- June 10 and II, the
organizer of the first Jockey Club and
the father of kapiolani Park was
asked regarding the racing in the old
DAYS. Allan Herbert IS the rather or
the racing game, and was instrumental
in. organizing the first racing club in
Honolulu.
When asked to tell OF racing here in
its infancy, MIR Herbert said: In
1872 the Hawaiian Jockey Club was or
ganized at the Roya! Hawaiian Hotel.
The officers elected were Allan Her
bert, president; Thomas Cummings,
vice-president; Governor John o. Dom
inis, Frank Pratt, Archie Cleghorn
and Judge Wideman, directors; Fred
Wundenburg, secretary, and NJ. Nc
Inerny, treasurer.
Track Near Wilder Ave.
Eve had a half-mile track near
Wilder avenue, on what we used to
call the Plains. At that time we had
three kings honorary members of the
club. They were His Majesty Kane
hameha, who died in September of
that year; Prince Lunalilo. and Prlcs
kalak "a.
Both Cummings and myself had
good horses in those days, and Fred
Vandenburg's Mark Twain and Col
MacfarIane's Austrian horse, Sam Mo-
ran, figured in the events. We had
number of good horses on the
Wilder track, but in a few years the
government wanted the land for town
lots. and we then secured a lease of
some $40 acres. now known as Kapio.
lani Park. 1t was an open plain,
without tree or house on it. Judge
Dole. Robert Levers. the Castle broth
ers and others remember it. There
was not a road or bird &c south OF the
Moana Hotel Kanaipa. high chief,
had number OF horses roaming over
the land ~
Cost e5 zoo. 80
After we leased the land it was sur
veyed and mile race track was laid
out. 1t cost $4,000 and took Is
months to complete. As an exae.
mile could not he obtained, 46 acres
were purchased from the .Pawahi es.
tate. This land has "a sea frontage
from Irwin's place to Judge Doles.
ana OH Tie IlOuHldit Sluc l1Ohl gam
Parker's to Cecil Browns.
THE only financial assistance that
/ had at that time was $50 from H. |
P. Baldwin, $50 from Capt. Nakee,
and a new hat from NJ. Mclnerny
The Kapiolani Park Association was
then formed, with 200 shares at $50 |
each, everyone purchasing one share !
securing a lot.
The first race at Kapiolani Park |
was a grand affair Natives came |
from al of the. islands. There must |
have been 3,01D natives, with their |
families, present. More than 300 |
came from manalo ranch. Today !
you will not find half dozen there.
Open House on Big Day.
ION the grand opening day every |
body Kept open house and spread re
freshments to their friends. Early in |
the morning a crowd lined the track |
and all were anxiously awaiting the !
first race. The King and Queen were
there and the Royal Hawaiian Band I
played tor the spectators.
The officers of the first race meet
were: Allan Herbert, manager; /
Thomas Cummings, assistant; John
o. Dominis, Archie Cleghorn, Frank
Pratt and Judge Widenlann. stewards:
c. B. Wilson, ID. P. R. Isenbrrg, Tom
Iyollinger, and many others worked
to make the first meeting a big sue
cess. H..
No Purses. a.s~. RI.
There were no purses for the horses
at that time, and all races were gen.
tleman events. After a few years OF
fun AMI peace, number OF profes.
sional horsemen came, among them
being Harry Egnew, Tom Mcclellan
and the three colonels, Cornwell,
Macfarlane and Parker The racing
this year will be somewhat different
from that of the olden days" he con-
Guided - ..-.-