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SANTO DOMINGO HANDICAP Feature of Saturdays Program at Havana Won by Skiles Knob. t ... . ? j Heavy Track Causes Many Withdrawals Interest in Sundays Stake Feature. ; ! HAVANA. Cuba, January 4. The Santo Domingo Handicap, a dash of three-quarters of a mile, which carried a purse of 00,. was the feature at Oriental Park this afternoon and resulted in an easy victory for Skiles Knob. The latter made all the pace and won easily from Belle Roberts. Sedan, making his initial start of the meeting, appeared high in flesh going to the post, was probably short and tired after going half the distance. Heavy track conditions again prevailed and mud runners had the advantage. The change in the going was responsible for numerous withdrawals. The afternoons sport was inaugurated with a thrilling stretch duel between Phedoden and Wald Master. The result was in doubt until in the last few strides. Phedoden took the lead entering the honlestretch and, under R. Davies energetie riding, was- able to successfully resist every challenge on the part of Wald Master, which, after tiring, .came again with renewed courage and speed to just fail to overtake the ultimate winner. Robert L. Owen, the favorite in the race, finished third after an early display of speed.- Butcher Boy scored in a canter in the second race, disposing of Prince Bonero, which set the pace from the start". Frances Crawford and Breeze, most fancied in the third, hay to be contented with trailing home King Tuscan, the old King James gelding leading by av wld6 margin. throughout,! Avion won the fourth after withstanding a fast closing challenge from Lady Langden, which, after being cut off and forced back, finished fast and gamely. - ; Flare was an odds-on choice in the sixth, but only brought disappointment, tiring badly in tho stretch, while Darkey was racing along in the front witli a safe lead, although he was foreed to a hard drive at the end to resist Timothy J. Hogans fast but unavailing last eighth rush. More than usual interest is being displayed in the running of the Cuba-American Handicap, carded for decision tomorrow. A good field., is scheduled to start and. weather permitting, a big crowd will be present to cheer its winner. Officers of the French warship "La Gloire, which is now in Havana harbor, were guests of the jockey club this afternoon. The first two-year-old race to be run at Oriental Park this winter is scheduled for January 21. There are forty-one youngsters on the ground and some of them have shown xleuty of speed in their trials.
