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f i i s J i i i i CROMWELL EASY WINNER ! Scores Impressive Victory in Christmas Handicap. Record Crowd Royally Entertained Five Straight for Williams Bros. Money - HAVANA, Cuba, December 25. A brilliant gathering of prominent iteop.e, anions whom were members of Havanas most exclusive social set and members of the different legations here, also members of the senate and of the house, together with President Menocal and his official family, witnessed the races at Oriental Park this afternoon. It was the largest and most representative assemblage that ever -witnessed the sport since racing was first inaugurated on the island. Fully ten thousand people were present, and the program was in keeping with the occasion, the fields in some of the races comprising the pick of the thoroughbreds racing here this winter. The bright particular event was the Christmas Handicap, a dasli of a mile and fifty yards with ,500 added, and O. K. . Moore furnished the winner when J. L. Donnhays Plaudit gelding Cromwell won by a length from Hubbub. The latter came from behind in the stretch run and was going fastest at the end. There were eleven starters, with Orestes and Hlue Wrack, coupled as the A. H . Diaz entry, the favorites. Iolite made all the pace, but tired in the last sixteenth. Hlue Wrack was a keen factor until straightened out for home, where he tired. Orestes was away slowly and appeared to sulk all the way. The stake was worth ,020 to the winner. The secondary - attraction of tiie afternoon was the jcuvidad Handicap, a dash of five and :i half fmloags for all ages, and it fnrhished a stirring finish between Williams Bros. Money and C. A. Stoneham. Different Eyes, the former barely put-staying his younger opponent in game finish. Incidentally this race marked the fifth consecutive victory for Money. Fort Churchill, a son of Honeywood, the English stallion imported to the United States a few years ago by G. W. Wingfield. owner of the Nevada Stock Farm, made an auspicious debut on the turf when he easily ran away from such a speedy two-year-old as Douglas Fairbanks in the first race today. If his initial effort is a true criterion of his ability. Fort Churchill is a wonderfully fast young horse. He ran the five-eighths in 59 and won by eight lengths, with Ins rider pulling Him up. THRILLING FINISH IN SECOND BACH. One of those thrilling finishes that are becoming of almost daily occurrence at Oriental Park came with the decision of the second race. The unconsidered Rhadames gave the confident backers of Shoddy a decided surprise by leading all the way. but the Zollicoffer representative had no easy time of it and the result was in doubt until the final strides and only the judges could separate the first three. Khadames was awarded the decision by a head, with Pers-ous second, only a nose ahead of Dione. which finished fastest of , all and would have won in another stride or two. The suddenly improved High Gear, and the odds-on favorite in the third race, won in good style after indulging Bagdadine with the lead to the fat-turn. While being worked on the track this morning Monocacy, a nine-year-old gelding, by Hamburg Monadonr. owned by C. Reed, fell, broke his leg and was destroyed. Starter Milton has added Marys Magneto and The Battle Wing to the schooling list. El Plaudit was withdrawn at the last moment from the first race when the geldings owner. Willie Dugan, discovered that he had entered the wrong horse. He intended to enter Superior, another of his two-year-olds. Neither has yet started. Jockey Penalver for the second time at the meeting suffered a suspension. He was sot down for ten days on account of his rough riding in thf. stake race. He cut sharply across his opponents with Walnut Hall in the first hundred yards and almost threw Buford.- . W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., of New York, was among todays visitors. Dr. Streett of Kansas City, Mo., was also here. President- M. G. Menocal, with his family, occupied tlie presidential box.
