view raw text
RICH TURF PRIZES IN CUBA Oriental Park Stakes to Have 00,000 in Added Money. 5,000 Added Each for Cuban Derby and Grand Prize Other Features of 0,000 Added. SARATOGA. N. Y.. August 10. Frank J. Bruen, who succeeded H. D. Brown as manager of the Oriental Park track in Havana, was an arrival today and will remain here for about a week to do missionary work for his association. Mr. Bruen spoke optimistically of the prospects of Havana racing next winter. "It will eclipstf anything formerly attempted in Cuba," said Mr. Bruen. "We have arranged an attractive stake program to which the added money will aggregate P0,000. The Cuban Derby is the1 lieadliner becauw of the fitdt that derbys always arc popular, and "during otir coming meeting the added money to it" will. , be 5,-OOf. This sum is not the outstanding one iu the stake list, for the Grand Prize also has an added value of 5,000. This stake and n 0,000 .stake exclusively for Cuban-bred horses are appropriations of the Cuban government. Another big stake that will be decided next winter will be the Grand National Handicap of 0,000 added and two stal es having an added value .of ,000 each. There will be numerous otlier fixtures, with none of less than ,C0O added value. Our racing will be iiiaugurate.il Thanksgiving Day and continue for one hundred or more days." Mr. Bruen just came from Havana, having stopped off in New York for a brief period to,con-t suit with Charles A. Stoneham, the principal owner of the palatial Havana track. Mr. Bruen"also an- nouueed that many notable improvements in connection with the track have, been completed since the last season of racing there. Chief of these is the enlargement of the recently constructed club house by the construction of another story to the building, on tcp of which has been arranged a modern roof garden. The enlarged structure now contains eighteen bedrooms, each witli a private bath. Tjie buildings at the main entrance, that contained the secretarys office, printing plant and pressroom, together with the paddock building adjoining, have been razed and .a handsome new entrance gate substituted. To the left of the club house and at a more advantageous location, close to the track, a new paddock and buildings to replace the ones formerly used for the racing secretarys office and printing establishment have been constructed: Mr. Bruen states that the design of. the new structures, is fully in keeping witli the handsome club house. The new printing plant is fully equipped to print the daily prosrams. condition books and other- work necessary for the conduct of an extended meeting. Havana will have the distinction of being the only track to print- its programs on the grounds, which will be a distinct advantage. NEW PADDOCK CONSTRUCTED. The new paddock lawn will contain abundant space, and from its long sweep and elevation one will be able to watch the races from start, to finish. The wooden stairways leading to the grandstand have been replaced by more substantial biies of concrete. The promenade back of the grandstand has been widened and arranged so that patrons will be afforded an unobstructed view of the betting inclosure from the main floor of the big structure. Mr. Bruen also stated that water pipes lised for sprinkling purposes, which formerly extended, only halfway .around the track, have- been extended, aroudd the entire course of one mile." f $ .g frrl. $ Last season it .was found that the six hundred stalls were inadequate to meet the growing demand, and buildings for one hundred new stalls are now in course of construction, aiul will be completed before the next season opens next Thanksgiving Day. Other improvements that will add much to. the beauty of the already picturesque grounds are being given attention. In the course of a short time, and previous to Ills, return, to Havana, Mr. Bruen will announce his plans for stake offerings and purse offerings. The list of thirteen stakes, including, the Grand National Handicap and Cuban Derby, both with an endowment, of 0,000. will receive several additions, aiid " the combined amount of added money to stakes will be the greatest offered at any. winter meeting, and almost equal to many of the more imiMirtant summer meetings. Manager Briien also made the important announcement that -there would be a substantial increase iu the dally purse offerings, which hews will be most gratifying to horsemen who intend to race in Cuba the coming winter. Manager Brueii is most optimistic regarding the outlook for the meeting, and declares it will be. the greatest in the history of Cuban racing. Interest in the. sport , on the island by the Cuban people is keener than ever, while racing is now on a more substantial basis since representative citizens and business men cf Havana have become closely identified with the clubs affairs as stockholders.-Among the more notable ones are J. Z. Hortet and 1. Quesada; two prominent men, who have recently been elected to the board of directors of the club.
