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RAIN CEASES AT JUAREZ BIG HOLIDAY CROWD WITNESSES DECISION OF CHRISTMAS PROGRAM. Ringling Wins the Navidad Handicap, Stake Feature of Card Grover Hughes Creates Some Excitement Difficulty in Filling Todays Card. El Paso, Tex.. December 25. The rain ceased today and with the return of good weather, a big holiday crowd journeyed to the Juarez track. The track was still in exceedingly bad condition, being deep and muddy. The Navidad Handicap, carrying a value of ,500, was the particular feature of the days racing. Foui-went to the post to take part in the race, but only tlirce actually participated in the running, for Grover. Hughes was excused by the stewards after jockey Hartwcll had refused to ride him on account of the fractiousness that he displayed. To begin with, he delayed the starting of the race by taking twenty-tive minutes to get to the post. Then lie ran away for half a mile just as he approached the mile chute, and when Hartwell declined to ride him the others were dispatched without him, by order of the stewards He was the favorite for the race. F. D. Weirs Ringliug was returned the winner. She was outpaced in the early running, but moved up with a rush on the turn and dashed past the others to an easy victory, witli Brynlimah second. Hocnir was the other starter. The well-backed Minnie F. led all the way in the opening dash and finally scored by rive lengths. Rockdale, another that was well backed at liberal odds, accounted for the second race, in which the first and second choices, Blacksheep and Compton. finished unplaced. Tlie consistent Oritnar Lad was never headed in the third and added another to his string of victories here. The fifth was easy for Wild Bear. Outpaced in the early running he ran away from his opposition at the end. He was the only pronounced favorite to score. Rose Oneil enjoyed the lead from start to finish in the closing dash, but was put to a hard drive to beat Amity a neck. Sleepiand was also right there at the finish. Kelsetta was the favorite and failed to show any speed at any stage of the running. For a time today it seemed likely there would be no racing tomorrow from the inability of Secretary Jasper to fill the card satisfactorily. The entries were uot closed at the usual time and not until afternoon was a sufficient number obtained, so averse were owners to running their horses in tuj badgolng that prevails.
