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HAVANA AND NEW ORLEANS RACING Form Well Obsorved Considering Class of Horses in Action at Both Tracks. New York, December IS. Handicappers and form students hereabouts concede that the racing at both Havana and New Orleans is up to the standard so far as consistency is concerned. While every favorite has not won, the logical contenders have been found fighting it out in forward positions at the close of each contest. Occasionally the unexpected happens and a choice fails to run his anticipated race, but such cases are much in the minority, which speaks well for the consistency of the horses running at both tracks, notwithstanding they are but selling platers. Present conditions of the racers is the chief guide for form backers and horses that show well are being consistently followed irrespective of the past performances of other horses over tracks other than "that at New Orleans and Havana. The preference of horses for certain tracks is becoming more noticeable every year, especially among the poorer class. First-class horses will do well in almost any kind of going, but the cheaper variety invariably show a distinct liking for certain tracks. It was noticeable, particularly at Saratoga this year, that some horses could perform creditably over the sandy going, while others could not move in it. Such a good horse as Westy Hogan showed this in a marked manner. He could not beat inferior horses in his one race at Saratoga, yet he came out later at Laurel and Pimlico and beat the best in training and, according to Mr. Carman, Ills trainer, he was just as good, so far as condition is concerned, at Saratoga as he was at Laurel and Pimlico. This is one instance in which a really good horse could not or would not extend himself in the going. GOING NOT SUITABLE TO HAUBERK. At Jefferson Park horses are winning that ran well over similar tracks such as Bowie. When these horses get to the Fair Grounds one is liable to see some great chauges in form. For instance, Hauberk does not seem able to live up to his reputation at Jefferson Park. Ho may run differently at the Fair Grounds. Hauberk is only one of many. When horses like Al Pierce, Producer, Kle-bnrne, Marianao and others can repeat, it is almost conclusive evidence that the going is the primary cause of the consistency as much as the present condition of the horses. "Form is pretty good down in Havana," said one well-known handicapper in talking on the subject vestcrday, "in fact I find it just as good as New Orleans. It should continue so as long as the track keeps fast. The fields there are so closely matched at times that one hardly knows where to look for the favorite and often a horse at a profitable price wins a race that should have been more favored by the price makers. There has been little cammo-f longing at either of the tracks so far as I can see. Horses at comparatively long prices have won races, but form entitled them to greater consideration bv the bookmakers but, as I said before, the fields "are so closely matched at times that there has to be some 10 to 1 shots in races and a price maker hardly knows which horses to quote at long prices and which to make favorites. "At New Orleans there arc too many favorites which stand out. This is due to their being a few good horses there which are dropped into races for betting purposes, though frequently at a sacrifice. When the scene changes to the Fair Grounds there will be many more good horses for Secretary McLennan to deal with and soft spots will not be as frequent for betting owners. There will certainly be more contention in races and not so many outstanding favorites."
