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VIGILANCE A FIXED RULE AT HAVANA. Prominent Owner Brought Under Discipline for Objectionable Advertising. Havana. Cuba, January 7. — The Cuba-American Jockey Club is leaving no stone unturned in an effort to keep racing at Oriental Park on the highest possible plane. Several popular jockeys have lieen suspended and fined for unfair riding tactics, owners of horses have been fined lor violation of the rules and now it develops that an owner who has a stable here has been made to discontinue advertising of "good thing" variety. Tlie following correspondence explains itself and indicates that the Cuba-American Jockey Club will not permit irregularities of any kind in the eon-duct of the meeting here, nor countenance any methods which will tend to bring the turf into disrepute. The following letter was addressed to J. W. Hedrick. manager of the Maryland Stables Co., at Raltimore. Md.. on December 24. and signed by Charles F. Flynn, secretary of the Cuba-American Jockey Club: "Dear Sir: Our attention has been called to your advertisement, which this association and our stewards agree is not for the best interests of racing. It borders on to the old get-rich-quick method, which has lieen tabooed by all reputable jockey clubs and racing associations, to say nothing of the ban placed against it by the United States government. "We. therefore. Uriah to notify you that the Cuba-American Jockey Club will not tolerate your methods, and you are hereby notified to discontinue such advertising or are will be compelled to refuse the entries of all horses racing in the name of J. W. Hedrick or the Maryland Stables Co. "You will oblige us by advising ns by cable of your intentions in the matter by January 1, 1010. and. if a satisfactory reply has not been received by that time all entries of your stable will be refused." In reply to this letter Mr. Hedrick cabled: "Letter received. Will stop advertising." It is pleasing to note that Mr. Hedrick immediately recognized the justice of the position taken by the association and that he acquiesed to their wishes in the matter by at once discontinuing the objectionable advertising. Mr. Hedrick and the rnemliers of his family will arrive in Havana in a few days to remain here for the winter. The sporting editor of the Now York Evening Sun and a writer of the highest reputation, is a recent visitor to Havana who is much impressed with the future possibilities of this city as a winter racing point. He has just concluded a visit of two weeks here and, liefore sailing for Key West yester day, gave out the following interview relative to the racing situation in Havana: "I was in Cuba last year before the opening of Oriental Park and liked the country and the people so flench I determined to come back again. The plant which Mr. Brown and his associates have built in Marianao was not fully completed during my visit last winter and I experienced one of the surprises of my life when I attended the races here the day after by arrival this winter. It was Sunday and I never saw a more brilliant gathering at any sporting event anywhere. Of course, we have tremendous crowds at the races on big d«ys in New York, but it should he remembered that the sport has been almost an institution with us for fifty years. "Time will work a constant improvement in the racing si I nation in Havana, as the plant of the Cuba-American Jockey Club is second to none anywhere. Belmont Park is bigger and cost more money, but we have no course in or around New York, outside of the home of the Westchester Racing Association, that your local course does not surpass in equipment, while for beauty of sur-roudingj* and the placement of the clubhouse and grandstand and ability to see a race perfectly. Oriental Park is easily ahead of any race course I have ever seen. "Cuba has been a sealed book to most Americans, but now that railroad and steamship transportation has been improved and the war has diverted tourist travel from Europe, more and more Americans are turning their attention to the beauties of the tropical countries Of which Cuba easily stands first. We have many racing enthusiasts around New York. Philadelphia and Boston, and it is a question of only a short time until they wiil come to Havana where they may enjoy a perfect climate and follow their favorite sport. The racing which Cubans knew formerly seemed to give them a wrong idea of the pastime. There is as much difference between the character of the sport as it was conducted at Abnendares in years goue by and at Oriental Park at present, as there is between cheese and chalk. • "Mr. Brown has surrounded himself with a thoroughly efficient cups of racing officials who know the business — and it is a business as legitimate as banking or any other pursuit — and their presence is a guarantee to the people of Cuba and. to all others who visit the race track, that their interests will be safeguarded. The rules of racing are being rigorously enforced and no questionable practices will be permitted: objectionable characters, who are under the ban of other reputable race courses, are excluded from the grounds at Oriental Park. This policy is hound to make friends and I expect on the occasion of my next visit to Cuba a year hence to find even more enthusiasm and larger crowds at the races. "Havana is bound to lie the banner racing point in winter for the people of the North American continent and when conditions here are understood tlie beat horses from America will race here. I have great faith in the Havana meeting for turning out ami developing good riding material, a tiling the turf is greatly in need of. I believe the present meeting at Oriental Park will turn out some jockeys, now practically unheard of, who will be a credit to the great pastime which has been trev designated the snort of kings. " There was another big influx of visitors at Ori-iii al Parak this afternoon. Close finishes were the order, with the winners under hard drives through the homestretch. .1 key J. Ieaioe. who had the mount on Charles Francis in the fourth race, was Indefinitely suspended for an unsatisfactory ride. The stewards were of the opinion rhat the boy could at least have been third with his mount. Two of the winners. Ruth Strickland and Mr. Sniggs. were bid up. M. Burns was responsible in both Instances. Both horses were bought ill. Wanda Pitzer was claimed by J. B. Goodman for 25.
