view raw text
] ! J j , , j , ! ! | HAVANA PROSPECTS GOOD RACING IMPEDIMENTS AT THE CUBAN METROPOLIS MET AND OVERCOME. New Drainage System Provided and the Track Practically Reconstructed to Defy Injury by Rain — Heavy Tourist Patronage Expected. Havana. Cuba. Xoveinber 3. — Many new stable.! will be found among the list «.f horsemen who have decided to ra.-e in Cuba. There are several tiling responsible for this, nio t important of all the Tact that the meeting held at Marianao last winter showed that racing here has come to stay and will eventually be a big thing. The Cuba-American Jockey Club had many obstacles to overcome and despite the numerous handicaps a successful rac: meeting was gi Cm. There is no question but that the condition of the track last winter was a most s"rious drawback. At the conclusion of the meeting plans were made to install a new drainage system, which has been built under the supervision of one of the ablest engineers in Cuba. Last year the drainage emptied into a cave, which was finally discovered to be inadequate for the purpose. This year the whole drainage sy* tern has been revised. It now empties into the Alinandares river. This new- system was put to a severe test during the recent rainy season and was not found wanting. The ditches "around tlie trac"» and stables have all been widened, deepened and re-graded and the whole thing works like a charm. Attention has also been paid to the track itself. About two feet of the top soil was removed, the lied of the truck regraded and twelve inches of sandy loam spread around the entire course. This soil was secured two miles from tlie track and was eonveved to Oriental Park on flat cars. Temjiorarv rails were laid around the track, which facilitated the work. Racing at Oriental Park will begin on Decembeir 10 and will run for eighty-two days. Several new hoteis have been built in Havana since last spring, .tiid already circulars have lieen sent to the Cnitetl states by variou a hotels asking the horsemen aud race-goers f..r their patronage. Re| orts from the board of trade in Havana indicate that the tourist season this winter will Inline of the best Havana has experienced in nian -years. Apart from this the tremendous price thai the planters obtained for their sugar crop has resulted in money being plentiful among the naties.
