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CUBAN RACING FEATURES TIDE OF TOURIST PATRONAGE BEGINNING TO SWELL INTO IMPORTANCE. Coming Horse Show Plans and Attractions King Tuscan an Improving Horse Wooden Shoes and J. J. lillis the Track Stars. Havana, Cuba, December 30. The meeting of the Cuba American Jockey Club may now be said to be under full headway, as the tourist trade has set in for Havana, and the hotels are thronged with visitors from all parts of the United States and Canada. The war, which effectually stopped the flow of European travel for pleasure, compelled travellers of the western hemisphere to become acquainted with their own country and the land adjacent to it. The result has been that this republic is sharing in the prosperity, which always follows in the -wake of those who are seeking recreation. It is thought that the influx of American visitors after New Years will surpass anything hitherto seen on the island. At any rate, the current meeting at Oriental Park is of such character that those who predicted that the huge stand would never be filled to capacity, will soon stand convicted of being false prophets, as the crowds on Christmas day and the two Sundays preceding that festival have almost filled the structure. The racing has been of better quality than last year, and there are fully ino more horses on the ground than when the gates opened in December, 1915. The track, -which was somewhat heavy on the opening day, owing to the presence of a top dressing of sand, is now as fast as any in the country, and before the meeting comes to a close on March 18, some of the existing records made by such horses as Iron Mask and Imperator will be lowered. When Wooden Shoes won the Christmas Handicap in 1:40, those who know this gelding and his form, said that the Marrone representative would beat 1:30 later on. When Wooden Shoes -was owned by the Quincy Stable, he was a hard liorse to beat over a hard track with a moderate cushion, and this description fits Oriental Park to perfection this year. The performance of the two-year-old colt. Sir Wellons, on Christmas day, was also conclusive proof that the footing is all that could be desired, five-eighths in 1:01 "with 110 pounds up being his contribution. This colt, by the way, "has improved very much since coming to Cuba, and is u big upstanding fellow that will take a lot of beating later on. He is another of the good youngsters by Jim Gaffney, and he was bred by his owner, W. F. Schulte, who was at one time president of the Western Turf Congress. Havanas Big Horse Show Plans. There is a world of Interest in the coming exhibition of the Cuban American International Horse Show, which will be held under auspices of the Cuban government, which, through the department of agriculture, has contributed a fund of 25,000. The best of the recent exhibitors at the National Show in M..dison Square Garden last November are confidently expected to take part in the show which -will be inaugurated on the evening of February 24, the following day and evening Monday, which is ail off day for racing, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Arrangements have been made to entertain a throng of Americans, many of whom will come by sea, Robert E. Tod and William II. Zeigler. both of whom will send their horses, having announced their intentions of making up yachting parties for the journey to Havana. Th - fact that the harbor here is landlocked and that vessels may ride out in any sort of storm in safety, lias always made Havana a popular port. President Menocal is very much interested in the big show and has placed his summer palace at Mari-anao at the disposal of those who have the active management of the project in hand for the housing and entertainment of the most prominent of the ex- hlbitors. The president is eager to have Cuba take the place it should occupy in the nations of live stock breeding, and at Chaparra and El Chico his two splendid fincas he has experimented extensively with horses, cattle and hogs. He has several thousand Leghorn hens at El Chico also, and when he wants recreation he goes to either of his country places and says nothing rests him like getting close to nature. Readers of this paper will recall that presideilt Menocal in an interview with your correspondent announced his determination of breeding his own army horses. His agents, chief among them Capt. Luis F. Belt ran. reported that it was impossible to buy animals of the proper type, the agents of foreign countries having bought all the cavalry remounts in sight. Horses were placed in the various provinces and Capt. Luis Ueltran was sent to the Tinted States to purchase K0 mares that would throw a cavalry type. That expert spent nearly two months in Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky and other states, but could not get the lull number. It is thought that many of the brood stock which will be brought to the show will stay in the country, as there is a lot of wealth here, and some of the wealthiest planters are fond of horses and will pay the price. Samuel W. Taylor of New York, who is the general manager of the show, says that Reginald C. Vanderbilt, Alfred R. Maclay, John Townsend and others prominent in the conduct of the National Horse Show at New York, have consented to serve on a working committee to shape the American end of the enterprise. There could not be a better place to hold the show, and boxes will be built on either side of the track, while the grandstand and clubhouse are so well placed and so commodious that thousands can have a perfect view of the show. Good Rating at Oriental Park. The money to date has been very evenly divided, and it required the Christmas Handicap to place " Joseph Marrone in the lead. II. G. Bedwell is having his usual run of luck and may be depended upon to get a full share of the money. He is deprived of the service of Sir Edgar and other good horses which carried his colors here last season, as they are turned out at his farm in Maryland, but he has a useful stable just the same. King Tuscan, in his string, is improving so rapidly that he may leave here one of the largest winners. Anita is just getting good and looks particularly well after her summer campaign. Wooden Shoes and J. J. Lillis pandobably can beat any other horse at Oriental Park weight-for-age at a. mile or over, and neither of them ever looked better than at present. Golden Gate, In the same stable, is one of the improving kind, and Wayland got a cheap horse when he claimed him in Maryland. Joseph V. Goodman, as usual, has a useful stable and has already won four races, two with Liberator and one each with Droll and Edmond Adams. The former Is a good sprinter and looks very well. As a matter of fact all the horses at this course look well and have a bloom to their coats which betoken perfect health. The performances of Liberator and Silver Bill, both of which are by Planudes, brings to the attention the fact that this sire was one of the best bred horses that ever came to this country, being by the Derby winner, St. Simon Oaks mare, Xonely. Edward Corrigan imported Planudes to ;the" United States and he was sold in Australia In 1003, having been sent to that country when racing and the thoroughbred breeding interests were Jeopardized by the passage of the Hughes legislation. Jtef uee, eon. of Hamburg and the Imported mare First Flight, is one of the fastest horses at the meeting and, if he stands training, he is going to be a tough customer for anybody to handle later on. AAilliam Reed of Lexington, brought him to Cuba and, after winning a couple of races, sold him to Young Fenwick, of Vancouver, B. C. There has not been a drop of rain since the meeting opened, except a ten-minutes shower one morning which scarcely laid the dust. Those trainers and owners who are here for the first time are most enthusiastic about everything, andBill Scully and Frank Herold have both joined the Palm Beach brigade at the Playa every forenoon. George Burke is anxious to get Tommy McTaggart to come to Havana to ride for his employer, Senor Alvarez, and an offer will be made for his services within the next few days. I 4.
