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MINOR HAPPENINGS OF HAVANA RACING. Havana. Cuba. Febniary 27. Oriental Park lias had some distinguished visitors in a racing way dining Ho- |.a-i week. James Butler, principal owmr in the Empire City, Laurel and Jnarei course-, spent a couple of days in Havana ami oa cadi afterno n of his stay here he was prcscut at Oriental Park. He went over the plant pretty thoroughly and paid especial attention to the track proper, which he pronounced the finest he ever saw. The nature of the soil is similar to that at Havre de Grace and. being a practical horseman, this appealed to Mr. Butler. Both the climate and the country pleased Mr. Butler, but plans made before he left New York enforced his departure for New Orleans. It would not be surprising to rind him making an exteuded stay here next winter. On Monday Jefferson Livingston and a party of friends arrived from New Orleans. This is Mr. Livingstons first visit to the island and like most people from the north he was much taken up with the place. The outdoor life and pleasant climate appeal to a man of his temperament and he has taken keen pleasure in seeing his horses run at Oriental Park. In the Livingston party were Mr. Charles MeCullough and wife. Several prominent Cincinnatians are also here. Harry R. Smitli. and J. Bauer, of the big cooperage firm of J. Bauer and Co. J. A. Hall, a prominent oil man of Warren, Pa., is also here. On Sundays, during Mardi Gras. the first race will be run at 2:30. This will enable visitors to the course to get back to Havana in time to witness the parade on the Prado and Malecon. The United States warship Montana arrived in Hie harbor a few days ago fir an extended stay and a number of the sailors from the ship have been visiters at the park. ftesides Tuesdays, for tin- remainder of the meeting. Fridays have been set apart as Ladies* Days. This feature is highly popular with the fair sex in Havana and quite a few now visit the cour-e unaccompanied by an escort, something unheard of a few years back. The people down here have already learned that Oriental Park is a well conducted place and that the ladies are as safe here as at their homes. Several of the riders on whom suspensions were inflicted are back in the saddle again. Mountain rode on Wednesday and Irquhart on Saturday. Palls suspension expired on February 23 and Harringtons on February 24. Widstenholm will be in the saddle again after February 25. Watts is down until March 3. Williams will not be seen in the saddle for the remainder of the meeting. Williams gave an exhibition of Wild West riding on Marigold on Saturday last, when he put Rustic Maid to the feme when her rider. Sterrett. attempted to come through on the Inside in the last sixteenth. Rustic Maid went to her knees and Ster rett was completely out of the saddle. In some miraculous manner the mare kept from falling and Sterrett scrambled back. The boy pulled Hu-tic Maid up and finished last. But for the mishap Rustic Maid would have won. as she was moving up fast when the foul occurred. A scheme is on foot here to build a ..HOO.00 hotel in Havana to accommodate the vast throng of tourists that are coming this way every winter. Several available sites have been obtained, one of which is said to be the jail at the foot of the Prado. The plans call for a fifteen story edifice. Resides being a lKmanza for the builders it will be a big thing for Havana. The conditions of one of the races on Saturdays program called for horses to be ridden by Jockeys who had uoYer ridden three winners. Maiden riders wore allowed four pounds. Jimmy Coffee, who rode at the old Brighton Peach track and who has been in the far west for the past few year-, is here with a couple of two-year-olds, one of which. Ophelia W.. has scored a couple of victories. . J. ODell won bis first race of the meeting when Quick Start beat Margaret Ellen in the second event on Friday last. Dayton has freshened up 1 this mare and she should score a few more brackets before the meeting ends.
