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NO DIVISION OF DATES. Manager F. J. Pons Denies That Negotiations Are in Progress with Havana Management. Cincinnati, O., November 8. Francis J. Pons, general manager of the. Charleston. S. C, track, arrived today at Latonia today and distributed stake blanks among the horsemen for the twenty stakes listed to be run at the new track. Mr. Pons met with wholesome encouragement from owners and apparently will not lack for horses when he opens the plant. He announced that everything is moving smoothly In the matter of construction of the plant and that with favorable weather, it will be in thorough readiness for the opening date, January 10. At present, attention Is mostly centered In the building of the track proper and tnt stables. Forty-five teams are employed in levelling the surface, while a large force of workmen are engaged in erecting stables. It is expected that at least 300 stalls will be available for occupancy by December 1 and 500 more by January 1. The influx of horsemen is not expected to begin in earnest until the middle of December and ample stabling will then bo available. Referring to rumors of a division of dates with Havana. Air. Pons said: "I know nothing regarding a division of racing dates with Havana and have never given the matter consideration, as I have no dates to divide. I announced our- opening for January 10 and aim to keep , faith with the horsemen. We will begin on the date announced. There are plenty of horses for all the tracks that will be in operation this winter and I seen no reason for at-temtiD" to force horsemen to one track. We shall accord fair treatment to all. who race with us and show partiality to none. Everything will be conducted above board in. a clean and wholesomo manner. We are trying to secure the best officials obtainable and in this connection Judge Rces is a possibility as the presiding official. We will spare no effort to get his consent to serve. The citizens of Charleston are with us in our undertaking and over fifty per cent, of the stock in the association is held by representative residents of the city. We expect a banner season of racing in this, our inaugural attempt and feel sanguine that our solid methods will insure for us an overwhelming patronage in future seasons." Mr. Pons will remain here until the close of the racing before returning to Charleston to assist in the supervision of the construction of the plant.
