History
135 years of history
Timeline

1890

1893

1894

1922
A club is born in the style of the Hurlingham Club in London
The institutionalisation of the sporting activities in our country began with the growth of international commerce, the construction of the railways by the English, and the growing number of British nationals that arrived at the shore of the River Plate.
It was then that the first sporting clubs were founded, clubs that imitated the successful institutions that already existed in England, and the sports that were played there: cricket, football, rugby, polo, golf, bat fives, racquets, tennis, bowls, shooting, riding, fox hunting and horse racing, among others.
John Ravenscroft, an Englishman that had been working on the development of the estancia “Tres Cueros” in Puán, had the idea of bringing together all the British subjects that lived in Buenos Aires so that they could meet socially and practice every type of imaginable sport within one institution. His idea was to model the Club on the much respected Hurlingham Club in London which had been founded in 1869 and which was, at that time, the governing body of polo worldwide.
In 1886 he tried, unsuccessfully, to obtain the support of the “Buenos Aires Cricket Club”. According to the official records, at a Board meeting that was held on 17 April 1886, the Directors considered a proposal made by John Ravenscroft. After a lengthy discussion they decided that they did not see sufficient reason to change the present locale of the club and arranged to “…convey this resolution to the gentlemen interested in the formation of the Hurlingham Club…”
Two years later, John Ravenscroft managed to secure sufficient support to put his dream into practice without the assistance of another institution. In addition to contributing money from his own pocket, he received financial support from John Dawson Campbell, Walter Dawson Campbell, Hugh Scott Robson, David Methven, John Ravenscroft himself, and shortly afterwards, the two John Drysdales.
At that time, the “Compañía Ferrocarril de Buenos Aires al Pacífico”, known as “The Pacific Railway” (today Línea San Martín), extended its lines 107 Km. to join Palermo with Mercedes in the interior of the province of Buenos Aires. The new line passed close to a farm owned by Hugh Scott Robson, which would be very important when the time came to decide where the Club would be situated.
John Ravenscroft’s original intention had been to locate the club in Belgrano, but word got round the landowners in that area and prices rose out of all proportion. The possibility was also investigated in Flores, Chacarita de los Colegiales, Villa Devoto and Vicente López. Finally Mr. Hill the General Manager of the “Pacific Railway” and a keen cricket player, advised Ravenscroft that his firm (of British capital), would support the venture if the club were to be built close to the new railway line. This inclined the balance in favour of Scott Robson’s land, a remote farm that was very difficult to get to, but which was situated very close to the new railway lines.
On 6 October 1888, a meeting was held to draw up the Legal Statutes. The following were present: John Campbell, John Drysdale jr., John Ravenscroft, John Drysdale, Hugh Scott Robson, B.W. Gardom, David Methven and, as Substitute members: Edward Casey, Alexander Hume and David Bankier. These Statutes were subsequently presented to the Government for approval. On the 22nd of November that year, the President, Dr. Miguel Juarez Celman signed and approved the Statutes.
The first meeting of the S. A. Hurlingham Club took place on the 1st of April 1889, the object being to accept the subscription of 124 shares. Three days later, the members met again, this time to designate the first Board of Directors and to accept Hugh Scott Robson’s offer to sell 337.479,32 m2 of open farmland for the sum of $ 40,000. This was a dairy farm located in a place called “La Estanzuela”, strategically situated close to the rails of the Pacific Railway, and a few metres from the recently constructed “rural tramway” which had been built by the Lacroze brothers to haul freight.
The place was barren and desolate. Other than the occasional hut, the only building in miles around was a house belonging to the Pereyra family and a store belonging to Nicolás E. Macchiavello. There were no automobiles, highways, or roads, just a few mud paths and tracks, and the most reliable way to get to the Club was on horseback.
The usual way of getting to the club was to ride from Flores, through Floresta, Liniers and Ramos Mejía. From there, across open farmland to the rails of the tramway, and then follow the rails to the Club. The journey was not easy because one had to cross open country, marshes, swamps, mires and even a shooting range, which added adventure and a touch of danger to the discomfort of the ride!
The Lacroze “rural tramway” was drawn by mules, had been built to haul freight and ran once a day. The first section between Chacarita and Luján had been inaugurated on 6th April 1888. However, it was not used much because it was slow and suffered unpredictable delays due to the loading and unloading of freight during the journey.
The Hurlingham train station on the Pacific Railway did not exist, and in the early years it was customary for Club members to stand on the side of the line and signal the train drivers. Although this was not according to regulations, the train drivers, with the apparent approval of the managers, would stop the trains to pick up the passengers.
Important People
Some important people that visited and/or played sport at the Club
Presidents in office
- Dr. Miguel Juárez Celman
- Dr. Carlos Pellegrini
- Dr. Roque Sáenz Peña
- General Julio A. Roca
- Dr. Figueroa Alcorta
- Dr. Marcelo T. de Alvear
- Dr. Carlos Saúl Menem
- Dr. Fernando de la Rúa
British Royalty
- H.R.H. Prince George, Duke of Kent – (Visited the Club in 1931. He played squash at the Club with Totito Casares and Pedro Scoponi. In 1938 he figured as “Patron of the Club”)
- H.R.H. Edward of Windsor, Prince of Wales – (Played polo on two occasions, 22nd and 29th August 1925. He attended Luis Lacey’s wedding reception. He visited the Club again in 1931 when he accompanied his brother the Duque de Kent)
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh – (Visited the Club and played polo in 1966)
- Charles, Prince of Wales – (Visited the Club and played polo in 1999)
- H.R.H Prince Harry – (Visited the Club in 2003 when he came to buy polo boots from Fagliano in Hurlingham)
- H.R.H. Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein – (Social visit in the year 1930)
Royalty
- Prince Willem-Alexander of Orange (the Netherlands) – (Visited the Club together with his wife the Princess Máxima) to watch the first match of the “The Princess Máxima of the Netherlands Cup”).
- The Princess Máxima (Née Zorreguieta) of the Netherlands – (Her father was a polo playing member, and she came to the Club as a visitor on many occasions). Princess Máxima graciously gave the Club permission to name the yearly ladies’ polo championship: “The Princess Máxima of The Netherlands Cup”.
- The Maharajah of Jaipur – (Played polo)
- Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark (Visited the Club during the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games)
And William Lacey, the “Wizard of Hurlingham”, arrived
William Lacey was instrumental in the construction of the Club (and what would later be the village of Hurlingham). This cricket professional, who had recently been living in Canada, was only 28 years old when he arrived at the Club with his wife and three sons (he would later have another two sons and a daughter). The family were installed in what is now called “La Casita de los Niños” “(The Children’s’ House”), which at that time was not yet finished. So important was William Lacey’s history and impact on the Club that he really deserves a separate article.
Known as “The Wizard of Hurlingham”, he was architect, builder, organiser supreme, and instigator of improvements, manager and sportsman. He was a friend to everybody in good times and in bad times, and was frequently consulted by all who lived in the area. He would also act as doctor and, (with the help of his wife) even midwife. His energy, enthusiasm and capacity for organisation were legendary. William Lacey embodied the true spirit of Hurlingham. With his example, he taught many how to win, how to lose, and most important of all, how to play the game. He was a superb polo and cricket player and, in addition, was the father of the legendary Lewis Lacey, Argentina’s first 10 handicap polo player.
On arrival, William Lacey set himself to supervise the various constructions. Under his direction, the rest of the Club was fenced in, the low lying areas drained, the grounds levelled, the first trees planted, and the cricket pitch prepared.
On the 10th July 1889, the Board approved an estimate for the building of the race track. This was situated around (what is nowadays) the cricket pitch and the Nº 1 and Nº 2 polo fields. It was the first grass racing track built in Argentina. Until fairly recently, one could still see part of the historic race track railings still separating the Nº 2 polo field from the fairway of the 1st hole.
Towards the end of 1889, a letter petitioning the installation of a railway station close to the Club was presented to the Railway. The management of the Railway and the Government gave their approval, and the station was inaugurated the following year. The service consisted of one return train a day. As requested, the station was named: “Hurlingham”.
The initial sporting activities
It was the custom at that time for players to travel out the night before, and the Railway provided a special sleeping coach for the use of the players. This practice continued till the Club built their own sleeping facilities. This sleeping coach was left on a railway siding in Hurlingham.
By autumn it was decided that the polo grounds were ready, and the first tournament was played on the 16th of May 1890.
Records also exist of a rugby match that was played on the 1st June of the same year where B.A.F.C. (Buenos Aires Football Club) beat Hurlingham. There are also records of a return match that was played six years later where B.A.F.C. again beat Hurlingham by the narrow margin of 16 to 14. William Lacey played in this match, but it was said not very well… because he did not know how to play rugby!
Also in June (some sources say October) football was played for the first time at the Club. Buenos Aires beat Montevideo in the match.
The Hurlingham race course was inaugurated on the 9th of July. Two days later “The Standard” published a description of the event: “… The special train carried the English Community to the scene of action…” and “…the grandstand, an imposing edifice built to accommodate 600 people was almost entirely occupied by the ladies…” The chronicle also mentioned Lewis Lacey’s impeccable work: “…The course is splendid, in fact the finest in Buenos Aires, measuring to the round 2,000 metres. The curves are perfect…”
Two years later, on the 26th June 1892 the first golf tournament was played (the course had only 9 holes at that time); and in July the first golf match against another club. The opponent was the Club San Martín.
Hurlingham Club, 120 years of history
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