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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. A winter race meeting of forty days duration will be conducted at Havana, Cuba, next stason. Such was the announcement made, recently at New Orleans. Coming from an authoritative source the declaration is attracting the serious attention of horsemen in the south. James D. Cawthorne, a Havana citizen ostensibly, but in reality the representative of the winter passenger lines between Middle States points and the Cuban Capital, was a visitor at the track last Tuesday and incidental to the inspection of the Crescent City Jockey Clubs plant unfolded the details of the scheme for the establishment of thoroughbred racing on the island. According to Cawthorne the racing plant of the Havana Sports and Racing Association, which failed so utterly in giving a meeting last winter, has been acquired by a new and strong syndicate, which proposes giving forty days racing with 5400 purses and ,200 handicaps. It has also secured rights nd special privileges for a foreign telegraphic service over the Havana-Florida coast cuble, which means the furnishing of its race results to American poolrooms. The present plan is to erect a first-class race course, with a steel grandstand, and a very fast track, at an outlay of 150,000. The work of construction will proceed at once, while a list of stakes will be presented to horsemen late in the present year. Agent Cawthorne thinks the period of the projected meeting will run from December 22 to January 30, 1904. "Havana is becoming a more favored winter resort for New Yorkers and easterners every year, and I feel assured of a great future for racing at Havana," said Cawthorne in an interview. The difficulty between James Carruthers and Alexander Shields, the owners of Advance Guard, has been adjusted. Shields is now the sole owner of the famous "iron horse," as after a visit to Toronto on Friday he succeeded in purchasing Carruthers interest for ,750. The latter wanted 0,000, but finally came down a peg. Advance Guard will, therefore, not be sold by public auction, but will carry Shields colors in all of the big handicaps and other events for which he has been engaged. The settlement of the dispute in such an easy way will be a source of satisfaction to turfmen and followers of racing who had been led to believe that Advance Guard might be shut out of his engagements because of - his doubtful registration. With the disposal of his interest in Advance Guard, Carruthers retires from the turf temporarily at least. Shields is now the sole owner of a formidable stable in which Carruthers was formerly interested and which consists of Advance Guard, Prince of Melbourne, Andy Williams, Hunter Raine, Zoroaster, Young Henry and a bunch of good two-year-olds, all of which have been wintering well at Bound Brook, N. J. One Crescent City Derby candidate has been disposed of by the announcement that Flocarline, Tichenor and Co.s filly, who was counted on as a sure starter, would not be shipped to New Orleans. Bishop Poole, manager of the Tichenor string, said that he had abandoned the trip, and now J. W. Schorr is seriously considering keeping his two candidates, Rightful and Spencer Reif, in their stalls at Memphis. Whether the sudden improvement in Witfulls form at New Orleans or a letter from S. C. Hildreth, which stated "Witfull is right good now; better not ship unless your colts are real good," or the high water which confronts all trains below Memphis is responsible in the change in Tiche-nors and Schorrs plans, is not known, but it is very doubtful if any three-year-old goes from Memphis to start in the Derby next Saturday. Spencer Reif worked six furongs in 1:19 last Monday morning. Mr. Schorr said he would decide later about shipping Rightful. Bullman, the jockey who will ride him, will reach Meiriphis Wednesday morning. J. A. Drake has sent two subscriptions to the Saratoga Special. Just what will be named, of course, will not be known until May 1, but it is presumed he will name Rose-ben, his candidate for the Futurity, and Ort Welles, a full brother to the great Dick Welles. Drake also sent in a big batch of entries for the other stakes that closed Monday. For the Saratoga Handicap and other stakes for three-year-olds and upward he has named Runnels, Wyeth, Savable, "Von Rouse and all his best. Nearly every stake offered by the Saratoga Association, outside of the steeplechase events, will have entries from him. H. E. Rowells five-year-old Yellow Tail, may be set down as a certain starter in the Carter Handican, to be run on the opening day at Aqueduct. Dr. Rowell made no secret of the fact he intends to send the good son of Watercress Paloma to the post in the Carter. Yellow Tail is only asked to carry 102 pounds in this event. John Walters, trainer for George Hendrie, the Canadian horseman, also is a liberal nominator. He engaged Red Robe and Reservation in r.ll tliQ handicaps and condition :- takr . Keel Rcbe is the winner of the Canadian and Cumberland Park Derbys. the Stanley Produce Stakes and the Woodstock Plate. Reservation is a highly tried three-year-old, and is a candidate for Derby honors. Walters also named Good Cheer, Gear Holm and St. Enoch in all the two-year-old events. Edward Jasper, secretary of the Worth Worth Jockey Club, announces that the following owners have signified their intention of shipping to Worth: Tichenor and Co., S. W. Streett, Durnell and Herz, E. Corrigan.G. C. Bennett, M. Goldblatt, James Arthur, S. C. Hildreth, J. A. Drake, J. Ownbey, J. U. Strode, R. M. Westerfield, H. Dernham, La-masney Bros, and B. Vincent. Pierre Lorillard has authorized his trainer, Fred Burlew, to purchase from W. C. Daly the two-year-old colt Lorillard, by Pontiac Annie F., which is a half brother to the famous Ramapo. The colt, according to those who have seen him work at Gravesend, is a most promising youngster. S. C. Hildreth has offered ,000 for first call on the services of jockey G. C. Fuller, who is to ride for Congressman T. D. Sullivan this year. Trainer Mason has J. G. Follansbees horses at Gravesend, where he will get them in shape for early racing. Roehampton, who was a star three-year-old, but which fell away off in form last year, was out with the Follansbee horses on Saturday and showed perfect soundness. "Father Bill" Dalys horses are nearer being fit than any of those at Gravesend. Daly will send a number of them to Washinton next week. Himself is already in splendid shape. He worked six furlongs Saturday in 1:19, fighting for his head.
