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CUBA TRIUMPHS OVER UNCLE SAM. Havana. December 22. Last week was the banner week of the meeting at the Almendares race course. Large crowds witnessed the racing and the attendance must certainly have been encouraging to the management. Extra attractions were provided in the way of a hurdle race, a race -which called for the riders to be oflicers of the Rural Guard and of Camp Columbia, and several handicaps. On Tuesday, which is generally considered an offday, over l.OOO persons turned out to witness the racing, while Thursday brought a corresponding increase. The first hurdle race of the season was run on that day and it proved a strong attraction. On Saturday there was a military race in which six horses started, three of which were ridden by oflicers of the Rural Guard and three by American officers from Camp Columbia. The race proved a good contest, although Guarda. ridden by one of the Cubans, proved an easy winner at the end. The running of this race aroused great enthusiasm and the result was especially pleasing to the natives. It was generally supposed that one of the Americans would -win. as it looked as though they had the pick of the mounts. The club, to avoid any complaint, had the riders draw for their mounts the day before the race. The American officers rode George. Leiper, Etal and Moyea, while the Cubans rode Bill Carter, Guarda and St. Noel. Strict attention was paid to every little detail of the race and no favoritism was shown to either side. A brilliant assemblage witnessed the running of this race, society turning out in force. The long row of private boxes were occupied bv some of the first families of Havana. There were also many ladies, wives of the officers of Camp Columbia. , present and President-elect General Jose Miguel Gomez occupied the state box. When the horses came out of the paddock on their parade, to the post, the riders were warmly greeted by their friends. Bill Carter was first and then followed George Leiper, Etal. Guarda. Moyea and St. Noel. They lined up in this order at the post, about fifty yards back of the barrier and, when they were finally scut away, it was to a perfect start. George Leiper showed the way for about a quarter, but on the far turn Guarda slipped through on the inside and drew away into an easy lead in the stretch. The Cubans are good horsemen and the youug officer who rode Guarda displayed good judgment in keeping next to" the rail and saving ground all the way. The victory of Guarda was hailed with a great demonstration and when the rider dismounted he was grabbed by one of his fellow officers, who hugged him in a tight embrace and planted a sound kiss on each cheek. No one paid any attention to the horse and Guarda proceeded to walk away when she was caught by a bystander. Officer Lamadrid was escorted by a party of bis countrymen to the state box in the grandstand and as he mounted the steps ho was roundly cheered by every Cuban present. General Gomez received him in a gracious manner and in presenting the cup said: "I am proud that an officer of the Rural Guard should have won and it affords me great pleasure to act for the Cuban Racing Association in presenting this handsome trophy to the victor. The daring manner in which you TOde Guarda shows that our yflung officers are the equal of their American brothers In horsemanship and this is especially pleasing to me." Another race of the same kind has been arranged for Christmas Day. The officers of Camp Columbia are on their mettle and wish to wipe out the defeat of Saturday last, so a hot contest Is certain. These races have aroused so much enthusiasm that it has attracted considerable attention to Almendares, and the Cuban Jockey Club is profiting handsomely over them. The cup which was presented to the winner o last Saturdays race was a handsome silver one 1 1 . , i 1 . 1 . , 1 j 1 : i and it has becii placed on exhibition in the show windows of one of the prominent establishments in the city. Several attractl6ns will be provided this week. Another hurdle race will bo run on Thursday and Friday Christinas Day will be an extra day and a military race will be the big feature on this afternoon. On Satunlay the conditions of one of the races will be that horses shall be ridden by privates from the ranks of the Rural Guard and from Camp Columbia. Both the American and Cnbau soldiers are anxious to ride over the hurdles and a race of this kind may be arranged for the week following. Al Hamels sprinter. Halifax, added another to his string of victories here by winning the handicap on Sunday. It was the horses third successive victory. On Sunday Halifax shouldered 122 pounds, was all but left at the post, worked his way around on the outside and. closing with a great stretch run, won going away in the fast time of l:lfi. Halifax is easily the best horse here and is probably the fastest horse ever raced on the island. There is some talk of racing daily commencing next week, but It is doubtful if this can be done on account of the lack of horses. There are not over 225 horses on the ground and some of these are not in condition to raee. There were several sales during the past week. Among those which changed hands were Alegra. which was purchased by J. L. Brown, an American, who lives in Maranino. a suburb of Havana. J. W. Pangle will probably dispose of the jumper. George Leiper, this week and if he does, this will leave him without any horses here. Colonel Thomas J. L. Brown, the presiding judge at Almendares. and one of the directors of the Florida State Fair, returned on Saturday last from a flying trip to Tampa. He brings back glowing accounts of the outlook for the race meeting which will be given in conjunction with the fair at Tampa and reports that applications have been received from a number -of horsemen who are wintering at Baltimore. Washington and Louisville for stable room. While at Tampa. Colonel Brown arranged for a special run of the steamship Olivette, which will bring over the horsemen who are racing here to the States. The Olivette will leave here on the Monday following the close of the Almendares meeting and will arrive in Tampa the day before the meeting there begins. All of the big stables racing here will go direct to Tampa and this means that some fair horses will take part in the" meeting there. Besides Halifax, three other horses racing here have three victories to their credit at the meeting. Eustacian. Chief Hayes and Trey of Spades. At the beginning of the meeting it looked as if Sally Preston would sweep all before her, but she has been beaten in her last two starts. Other horses that have won twice here are Laughing Eyes. Water Cooler. Solon Shingle. Roseburg II., Select II., Colonel Blue. L Amour. Lady Ethel, Elder. Bitter Hand and Jupiter. In all. forty-nine different horses have won a race. Hugh McCarrcn. Jr.. and P. S. Smith, the latter a local man. appear to have a mortgage on the two-year-old races. Roseburg II., Eustacian and Fout being the best youngsters that are racing here. Jack Baker, who came here from New ork, is training the horses owned by Smith. He has sent five winners to the post. McCarren has won four races. E. W. Baxter three and Scott Williams one with St. Aulaire and another with Duonio. Ilinchcliffe and A. Martin arc tied for first honors among the jockeys, each having ridden nine winners. Both bovs finished third five times and were unplaced twentv-two times, but Martin has the best average, having been placed second eight times, while Hinch-elifTc has been placed secoud but five times. Liebert Neelev. Earl Haynes, Obert and T. Harry have ridden four winners each, while Gore. Hatchett., Trox-lcr. Lovell and Paul have ridden three winners. Bollins and T. Smith rode two winners and the following lxvs one each: Mulcahy, Wood, Anderson, W. Powers, S. Flynn and Pending. Superintendent Sam Parmer has worked wonders with the Almendares track. He has succeeded in keeping the going in excellent condition and this was no easy task, considering the handicaps that he is forced to contend with. The foundation of the Almendares track is of limestone with earth on top. The soil is a red clay that powders up to a fine dust in dry weather and it is necessary to keep it packed down to keep it from being swept off the track by the high winds which sometimes blow in from across the gulf. Fortunately there have been a few showers since the meeting opened, something unusual in Cuba at this season of the year. The soldiers have been great patrons of the sport and a large number have been present every race day. The Rural Guard soldiers are also keen admirers of racing and they, too, have been liberal patrons. There is a shortage of jumpers here and If a few more were on the ground the club would probably give three hurdle races a week. The natives like hurdle racing. At the request of some of the members of the polo clubs at Camp Columbia a race for polo ponies will be run some day next week during the holiday season. There is great rivalry among the officers of the camp as to who owns the fastest ponies and the question will be settled by the running of one of these races. There is also a local polo team in Havana, the members of which are made up from the Vedudo Tennis Club.
