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HAVANAS FUTURE ASSURED What the Change of Ownership in Oriental Park Means Why the Deal Hung Fire Offi ¬ cials to Remain and Rac ¬ ing1 Improved The consummation of the sale of the Oriental Park course at Havana Cuba to George W Loft of New York and A H Diaz and Frank Steinhart of Ha ¬ vana means that H D Curley Brown will retire from racing after a seasons supervision of the Havana course The price paid for the Havana property was nearly a million dollars Brown and his immediate associates which include Toronto parties and C H Lansdalc of Cincinnati parted with thtir interest for about 700000 The other interests which were Cuban and headed bv A II Diaz were figured at some 250000 or 800000 more Of the 700000 Brown held more than 500000 The American interests wore priced at 00000 In the winter of 19171018 but owing to improvements was increased to 700000 last winter Cnrley Brown said last April that when the Havana deal was closed he intended to retire and after a seasons service at Havana in an advisory capacity would go to Europe with his son daughter and grandson for a long rest and the education of his grandson Brown is a rich man owning in addition to his profits in Cuba valuable lands in California and in Florida outside Jacksonville JacksonvilleThe The officials at Havana will not be changed except that Chris Fitz Gerald will succeed Brown us general manager starter Milton will be the executive man in track and building improvement of which much is to be done He was the actual working superintendent under Brownv Martin JJa tluinsmrwHrbe the racing BecretaryHuaW H Shel ¬ ley the presiding Judge nest winter Their con ¬ tinuation in office was part of the deal Chris Fitz Geralds term as general superintendent is for threw years at 23000 a year and he is to have com ¬ plete control controlINCREASED INCREASED VALUES AND IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVEMENTSUacing Uacing values are to be increased next winter and with the enlargements and improvements now in hand Oriental Park is expected to draw many more pastThe people than it lias in the past The closing of the Havana deal hiing on receiving an extension of the charter for five years This extension has been granted by President Menocal who is extremely friendly to racing and likely to figure at once as a breeder and owner of thorough ¬ breds bredsIrcorge Ircorge W Loft is well known as a wealthy and liberal racing man in a large way He fell in love with Oriental Park and Cuba while there on a long visit last winter winterA A H Diaz is a Cuban and an extremely ricli man owner of one of the richest copper mines in the world which is on the island islandFrank Frank Steinhart was once a Chicagoan His brother still lives and practices law here Stein hart went to Cuba as American consul and at the close of his term of office secured control of the traction and lighting systems of Havana He too is a liberal and rich man and a lover of racing racingAltogether Altogether the combination is a strong and healthy racingIf one for American and Cuban racing If on top of the purchase of Oriental Park a group of enterprising Americans would secure land and a concession for a great hotel and build one in Havana the inducement for Americans of means to go there would be vastly increased Such a hotel is greatly needed in the metropolis of the Pearl of the Antilles At this time hotel accommo ¬ dations in Havana are not broadly good The one or two good hotels are always out of reach because of early reservations and the other establishments are far from such as Americans regard good hotel service and food
