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ii B 1 I 1 ! ! 1 SURPRISE AFTER SURPRISE Biggest Crowd of the Havana y. Meeting at Oriental Park. - Orestes and Other Favored Ones Suffer Unexpected Defeat -; Long Shots Win. HAVANA, Cuba. February 21. Tlie Cuban national holiday saw tlie largest crowd of the present Ing at Oriental Park today. Tlie grandstand, boxes and every available space in the spacious grounds of the Cuba-American Jockey Club were filled with a seething mass of humanity. Perfect climatic conditions made it an ideal day for outdoor sport, and secretary. Martin Nathanson nobly arose to the occasion by providing one of the best programs ever offered at the Marianao course. The card comprised eight raees. witii the Independence Han- dicap of 2.000 added as tlie principal attraction. while the El Grltte de Baire Handicap and the army officers race were in the nature of supplementary features. The beautiful uncertainty of racing was- never more strikingly illustrated than it was today. With all the best horses on tlie grounds engaged in tlie various races." it never looked better for the form backers, and the public seemed destined to reap a harvest. However, the results told a different story. Surprises came thick and fast, with long shots carrying off the lions share of the pnzes. . The biggest surprise of tlie afternoon was the defeat of Orestes in the Independence Handicap bv Barney Shannon: an added starter. "Waiting tactics were in a great measure resp-jnsible for the defeat of the Tracery colt, as Knapp apparently saved him too long, and although Orestes finished with a great .rush lie was not quite able- ta get upr"lmt-TvouId have won in another stride-. Barney Shannon was tiring badly and just lasted. Etruscan was the surprise in the El Grltte de Baire Handicap, the old gelding scoring bv a nose over the favorite Sirocco, while tlie latter had but a head margin to tlie good of Surplice. Tlie finish was of a sensational order and the result in doubt until tlie numbers were posted. The spectators were given an Inkling of what was in store for them when Starkader, one of tlie Mrs. L. A. Livingston horses brought here by Eugene Leigh and backed down from 10 to i to 1, beat Rosagine a head in a driving finish iii the opening dash. This was followed by Al Hudson, another outsider, scoring by a neck in the second race, wiille the favorite. Ambrose finished absolutely last. Then came High Low, at 20 to 1. witii a head victory over Colle iu the third, the first choice in the race, Butler, being lost among the tail-enders. The army officers race fell to Galawav. ridden ..r;Iell,r-. Cespedes. with Deckhand second and iible third. This contest evoked much enthusiasm, and tlie winner and his rider were given an enthusiastic ovation on their return to the scales. Sister Susie added to the woes of the form players when she failed iu the fifth, the winner turning" up in Premium.
