Havana Management Plans the Establishment of a Futurity and Derby to Encourage Breeding in Cuba, Daily Racing Form, 1918-04-02

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t ~? HAVANA MANAGEMENT PLANS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FUTURITY AND DERBY TO ENCOURAGE BREEDING IN CUBA + __ -* Havana. Cuba. April 1. — A long step forward in the movement to establish the breeding of the thoroughbred horse o:i a substantial scale in Cuba, which the management of the Cuba-American Jockey Club had in mind ever since the introduction of racing here under its present regime, has just been taken. General Manager Brown of the OrieatSl Park track, has announced the perfection of plans for the establishment of I Cuban Fulurity. for Cuban-bred two-year-olds, to be run at Oriental Park, each Christmas Day. beginning with 1921 and for a Cuban Oerhy. for three-year-olds, to be run each winter, beginning with 1»2*_. The latter race is to be open for nominations for foreign-bred horses, in order to ittract three-yea r-olds of high-class here from the I nited States and other countries, but in order to encourage Cuban breeding. Cuban-bred participants will receive an allowance of ten pounds, except the Fulurity winner, which will be entitled to an allowance of five pounds. This special allowance is in addition to the other allowances to which a horse may be entitled. The Futurity will be framed along the lines similar to those of corresjiondiiig races in the Cuited States, with cumulative nomination fees, forfeits and starting fees to lie added to an appropriate amount to be contributed by the Cuba-American Jockey Club and a s|iecial endowment, which the Cuban Congress is to bo asked to make for tin encouragement of the upbuilding of the thoroughbred brooding industry in Cuba. It is understood that the aid of influential mem Iters of the Congress lias lieen pledged to the project Mi that the appropriation will be forthcoming shortly. As a preliminary requisite. Manager Brown an-nouncc l the foundation lias already ban laid for the breeding of a sufficient nunilter of thoroughbreds in Cuba to warrant the making of plans for these races, both of wiiieh. it is expected, will be valuable from their inception. President Mcnocal. the chief exe--u:ive of Cuba: Sr. Bicardo Dolz. president of the Cuban Senate: Charles Hernandez, postmaster gen-eraj of tae Havana Klectric Bailway ami Power Company, one of the most influential men in private life in all Cuba: Sr. A. U. Diaz, one of the wealthiest men on the island; Messrs. Tolon and Fernandez, v ho have already established a stud near M.il.uizas and utlier Cubans have either recently acquired a considerable number of thoroughbred mares for breeding puriioses, or are about to do so. The announcement of the plans for important and ral--lable races for Cuban-bred horses will naturally influence still more to embark in breeding ventures md gives an impetus to the breeding of thoroughbreds on the island that may eventually lead to the establishment of a great Cuban ludustry in this line. President Menot-al. it is stated, has entered into the venture of breeding fine horses in a wholehearted way. Be recently received a choice band of Arabian stallions and mares as a gift from Spain i nd will use this stock for crossing with thoroughbreds, with the idea of producing some fine general -pun lose horses at the well -appointed country estate which he maintains a few miles rfom Maria-nao. During the last week or two President Meno--als agents have purchased no less than twenty-four choicely-bred thoroughbred mares at Oriental Park, to form the nucleus of the thoroughbred breeding stud which the president proiioses to establish. President Mcnocal. who is a graduate of Cornell Iniversity. at Ithaca. X. Y.. represents the most progressive tjrpa of the wealthy Cuban, and it is certain that the example which lie is setting will lie emulated by less distinguished residents of the island. General ilanager Brown, in commenting upon the motives which influenced1 the directors of the Cuba-Ameriean Jockey Club to decide ii]H n the opening of the Cuban Futurity, said: "We believe that the highest type of thoroughbred race horses can 1m- successfully bred and developed in Cuba, and it is with this object in view that we have decided to undertake the fostering of important races for Cubau-bred horses at Oriental Park. President Menocal and other prominent Cubans have begun to take a substantial interest in the breeding of thoroughbreds, and these races, together with others that will lie devoted to the encouragement of the horse-breeding industry in Cuba, will give the pioneers in the breeding field a proi er incentive to carry their ventures to a successful issue. "We lielievo that the thoroughbred breeding industry can lie made to flourish here in Cuba just as easily as iu California, where the conditions are somewhat similar with respect to climate ami other important factors. It is a matter of common knowledge that many groat horses were bred in California. Who does not remember the feats of the horses that carried the colors of the late "Lucky" Italdwin with such distinction, and who cannot recall tlie splendid record made by the California-bred horses of the late J. B. Haggiu. to say nothing of the many other notable successes scored by California breeders over a long period of years? Conditions for the development of high-class "horses are. if anything, more favorable here in Cuba than in California and there is really no good reason why Cuba should not produce a strain of thoroughbreds that will reflect groat glory and credit iqion the island and its wonderful resources. Those who have given study and thought to the subject firmlv believe that with the proper attention Cuba will produce as good race horses as any other country in all the world. ind. in my opinion, it is only a oties-tion of a comparatively short time before Cuba will be producing thoroughbreds that may lie pointed to with pride by residents of the island." A tremendous crowd turned out yesterday to witness the closing days program at Oriental Park. Society was out in force and the American minister, with other members of the diplomatic corps, wen-present. Starter James Milton, presiding steward C. J. Fitz Gerald and judge Cornehlsen leaves for Maryland to take up their duties at the Havre de Grace meeting. In the one hundred and five days racing here, starter Milton never found it necessary to fine or sus|iend a jockey. This is a record. Martin Xathansou will remain here a couple of days before going to Chicago. Manager Brown will stay over for the automobile meet, which is scheduled for April 6 and 7.


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