Allan J. Wilson

Allan James Wilson (February 16, 1886 – October 27, 1963) was a Canadian-born American horse racing executive.

Early life Wilson was born on February 16, 1886, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He spent the first eleven years of his life on his family's farm in Charlottetown, where he began his work with horses. Before he reached his teens, Wilson's family moved to an apartment in Boston. He competed in Grand Circuit races in Avon, Connecticut, Goshen, New York, and Syracuse, New York.

On January 12, 1921, Wilson was elected president of the Short Ship Circuit, a harness racing chain. From 1929 to 1935 he was president of the Bay State Light Harness Circuit.

In 1932 Wilson played an instrumental role in bringing the Grand Circuit back to Rockingham Park. He served as manager of the meet, which was sponsored by the Boston Garden Corporation in connection with its New England States Fair. It was the first Grand Circuit meet at Rockingham since 1913. In 1933 he secured the rights to host The National and The Great American Stakes, two tune-up races for the Hambletonian Stakes, for Rockingham Park.

On January 12, 1935, Wilson was elected vice president of Eastern Racing Association, Inc., a corporation formed to open the Suffolk Downs thoroughbred race track in East Boston. Six months later he was given the additional duty of managing director. He retained this post until it was abolished in December 1936.

In 1939, Wilson was one of the financial backers of a proposed horse track in Natick, Massachusetts.

In 1945, Wilson returned to Suffolk Downs as president and general manager. He remained in the position after the track was sold to a group led by John C. Pappas in 1946. On April 17, 1948, Wilson resigned as president and general manager. He was asked to stay on as chairman of the board, but declined because he wanted to cut down on his business and racing responsibilities.

In 1950, Wilson was named vice president and general manager of Scarborough Downs.

Stable owner Wilson owned a horse stable based in Newton, Massachusetts. His son, Allan Jr. was one of his drivers.

Death Wilson died on October 27, 1963, in Dover, Massachusetts.