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ALL IS READY AT TAMPA. Tampa, Fla., December 31. Everything is in thorough readiness for the opening of the sixty-days meeting here on Monday next. Indications point to a successful season of racing, for this little city is crowded with manv visitors who will no doubt bo generous patrons of the sport. The long drawn-out cigar strike which lias given the management considerable concern, does not appear to have left the scars expected. On the contrarv one is impressed with the prosperity that is apparent and it is generally thought that the struggle between capital and labor will not be a factor either way in the making or marring of the racing. The two special trains from Pensacola arrived without incident on schedule time, but the unloading of the 150 horses was somewhat delayed on account of additional charges by the raiiroad companies over the original contracts. It was well along towards noon when the maiter was finallv adjusted and the horses taken off the train, .but the delay in unloading served to confuse the routiuo order and brought about a long delay in getting out the entries. The two-year-old race which was intended for the opening day also had to be dispensed with, because of the dearth of youngsters in these parts, there being less than a dozen at the track. A substitute race was put on to round out the full card of six races. It had been expected that there would be at least five hundred horses to draw from, but a count of the number on hand shows that not over 350 arc on the grounds. The consignment by steamer from Pensacola will swell the total to probably 450. Only eight owners have como from Jacksonville, but it is expected that more will follow. The officials have announced an intention of preventing several riders from taking mounts here that rode at Pensacola. and several trainers are also on their tab, it is said. Jockey Koerner will probably be the star rider here. The city is fast filling up with visitors attracted by the racing and local folk are showing much niore interest than ever before. The course is m much better condition than at any time last year., The most extensive stable here is that of Wayno Joplin. who has .seventeen in his barn, the lot including three or four which held their owh during; the short time they raced at Jacksonville,
