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HAVANAS RACING PROMISE TRACK AND STRUCTURAL EQUIPMENTS IN READINESS AND PERFECT CONDITION. Cubans Prosperous and Eager for the Advent of the Thoroughbreds — Havana Prepared to Entertain Tourists in Comfort. Baltimore. Md., November 13. — Reports sent up from Havana by trainers already located at Oriental Park are most flattering Use the coming meeting in Cuba. According to the horsemen the natives are anxiously awaiting the return of the thoroughbreds and predictions are made that the second meeting at the Murianao track will be a most successful one. Wonderful work has been done by those in charge iu installing the new drainage system and the plant is now iu splendid shape for tlie opening. The fancy price obtained by the sugar planters for their crop has resulted in a great boom on the island and money will be plentiful down there this winter. With its ideal climate and beautiful surroundings. Havana is destined to become one of the greatest winter tourist iioiuts on this continent. The government is fostering everything that will tend to draw visitors to Cuba, and the hotels, realizing the increased travel in that direction, have kept pace with the times and are prepared to handle big clouds this winter. There are a great many hotels iu Havana, probably 1 *0. sour. large and some small, and the cost of living is aUiut the same as in the United States. Quite a few who intend going to Cuha for the races will make the sea trip. There are two lines of steamers running from New York to Havana, the white fleet of the Lnited Fruit Company and the Ward Line. Those who prefer the rail route can go south via the Atlantic Coast and East toast Line to Key West and sail from there to Havana iu live hours. Tln.se iu the middle west cau go via New Orleans from which point the Southern Pacific Company runs a line of steamers to , Havana. The horses will Ik- shipped via Key West. They will Ik- load.-d at Baltimore in express cars ! and run on passenger time to Key West, where the cats will be switched to the big freight steamship. Henry A. Flagler, and carried across the gulf. On J reaching Havana the cars will l»e run out to Oriental lark. This means that the hordes can Im-loaded iu Baltimore and unloaded at Oriental lark ; IV Cuba. The conditions that Secretary Nathanson has prepared ! for the first nine days of the meeting have met with general satisfaction. The horsemen real-is* that Mr. Natnaiisoo excels in his line and that . he can be depended ui»on to provide races to suit all I sorts of horses, which will give the small owner an , opportunity of gathering his share of the spoils. It Js well known that everyone gets a square deal 1 . where Martin Nathanson is in charge and that no , distinction is made lietween the one-horse owner r and owners with enormous strings. The staff of officials iu Cuba this winter has iu a i way been reorganized. Iu the stewards" stand wi.l 1 lie found two men new to the Cubans, but well 1 known to the American race goer. Christopher J. Fitlgerald. so long and favorably known as an i official of the Jockey Cluh • n the New York track*. and Albert T. Dobsoii. who has presided in the r stewards stand at many far western meetings. will lte associate with Charles I.ausdalc. Be. Fitzgeralds record s| eaks for itself. He was an i official ou the big tracks for a number of years and 1 it was only after much corres|iondence that the I IMjwers that lie iu the Jockey Club agreed to allow I «r. Fitzgerald to go to Cuba to preside in the I stewards stand this winter. Realizing that Havana ii is destined to lieeome a great winter racing point t they undoubtedly wished to foster the S| ort on the 1 island and wanted to sec the Highest type of officials s iu charge of the racing. Mr. !• ih-on has the reputation of being at once a * fair and determined official. He is popular witi i horsemen who have raced in the west and his s presence in the stand at Havana will help the e meeting. James Milton will again do the starting. His work in Cuba last winter earned him many i friends, and race goers ou the island will welcome c his return. The regrading of the track proper at Oriental ■ lark has bee:i completed. The topsoil used was obtained a couple of miles from the course and .i Z is said to lie just the right sort to make the footing good. The spots on .ae lawns and infield that 7 looked rough last winter are now covered with a J thick carpet of grass, and fl wor beds have been lavishly laid out. The macadam road that has s lieon built across the infield, leading from the paddock gate to the stables, will be much appreciate 1 I by horsemen. The roads about the stables have «• all liccn regradod. the ditches deepened and the e drainage improved. The transportation faeilines to and from the city v to the track were excellent last season, but will be I improved ui»on by the addition of a spur on the ,. Playa line, which now runs to the immediate rear r of the grandstand. Ni"ht life is on - of the principal attractions of f Havana. The concerts at the Ma lee sa ami Ccntril ,1 Park are a real Irejt. The nights are balmy and ,1 the promenade on the Irado ami Maleeon on con cert nights affords one of the sights of Havana. The Kentucky delegation has already left Latonia ., for Havana. This consign men I left several days ago and itidud.-d the llsllll "f B. ]|. J. ft. i Keene. T. * J. Harmon. A L. Benny. N. 15. Davis. . T lriin C- E. Hamilton. Frank Rector. George , Chancellor R. •! Powers. T. J. Carroll. C. Began. !■ A 1. Taylor. I". J. Kollcy. R. White and G. W. J " Kissel!." The Maryland delegation will not leave j until the "conclusion of the Bowie meeting. Anion.: tls.se who will ship from here to Havana are .L f rtbur J W. Pangle. J. V . Dayton. J. W. H-dtiek. ; Uuincy Stable. .1. S. Ownbcy. A. R. Bresler and II. ! G. Bedwell. __
