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, REASON FOR HEAVY TRACK s 1 Disastrous Results Follow Plowing Up of Havana Course. Much Regret Evinced on all Sides Over Retirement of Senor A. H. Diaz. HAVANA, Cuba, December 13. The past week at Oriental Park, has witnessed a gratifying improvement in the track and with it has come, a noticeable improvement in the grade of the sport furnished the patrons. The heavy track of the first week proved to be a serious handicap and had the effect of keeping the fields down to the minimum and kept the better class of horses in their bams. The unseasonable tropical rains did much to ruin the track, but the plowing up of the course last spring following the automobile races was the prime cause of its late wretched condition. The track had been made hard by being rolled nnd oiled to "put it in shape suitable for the automobile contests nnd in order to bring it back Into its former condition the use of the plow was resorted to with disastrous results. The unusually heavy rains that fell for almost two weeks prior to the opening of this seasons racing precluded any possibility of getting the course into anything like decent condition. It can be taken for granted that no more automobile races will be held at Oriental Park, and if they are, the former- mistake will not be repeated. On the outside rail and all through theJiome-.stretcIi-theraHvas a: "path.--and recently the. ijock-eys have made full use of it. Tlie Tider that succeeded .in hitting the "path" first with his mount Invariably got to the finish in front. The management has wisely had this strip harrowed and made to conform to the other portions of the homestretch. The free use of sand to fill in some hole left after plowing has also helped to put the track in an improved and safe condition. Now that the going is again fast there is a noticeable improvement in the racing, while the better grade of horses are now performing. The work of tabulating the entries to the big stake fixtures is almost completed and these will be issued in book form shortly. The Cuba Three-Year-Old Championship Stakes will have its in-augural running next week. The stakes that Immediately follow will be the Christmas Handicap, the Cuba Two-Year-Old Championship, to be run December 26, and the New Years Handicap on the first day of the new year. The retirement from racing of Senor A. H. Diaz, Cubas pioneer turfman and most prominent breeder and owner on the island, naturally caused no end of comment among local racegoers nnd many reasons were advanced for his action. The main reason that actuated this wealthy Cuban in his decision was. that his vast copper interests on the island prevented him from giving the proper attention to his turf enterprises. Senor Diaz is a busy man, and his time is pretty well takeu up with his business affairs. Another reason advanced by his friends was dissatisfaction over the manner in which his stable hud been handled by his various trainers. Much regret was evinced when Senor Diaz decision was announced, as -he has been a veritable pillar of the turf in Cuba and one of its best patrons. There is, however, a possibility of his return to racing, inasmuch as he still retains a half interest in the stallions nnd brood mares that he sold to one of his compatriots. Jockey Butwell, premier rider in America, made his appearance in the saddle in Cuba during the past week, and after seeing him ride the Cubans, do not wonder why he has climbed to the head of his profession in the United States. This veteran of the saddle has made a most favorable impression here, and it should not be long before he will lead the other riders here. The first day he donned the silks he rode two winners, both horses belonging to Senor E. Alvarez, the wealthy .Cuban turfman he has arranged to ride for. during the meeting. Willie Daly, himself a former jockey, and now in charge of the Alvarez stable, was instrumental in securing the services of Butwell for his employers stable. Besides Butwell there are many other good riders, that aro accepting -mounts here this season, and the list is larger than ever before. Among those "who are displaying good riding form are F. Wilson, who will ride next year for W. R. Coe; Kelsay, who. is under contract to ride for Gifford A. Cochran; B. Kennedy, the leading Kentucky rider; Crump. F. Hunt, Pickens, J. Dominick, Merimee, H. Garner, Pitz and Simpson Boyle. The last named will resume riding for E. R. Bradley next year. Horses that summered in Culia are displaying excellent form, and thus far have been doing much better than those recently arrived from the Unite States. Among the former that have been winning with regularity ure Black Prince, Pomerene, Blaze-away, Waking Dream and Duke of Shelby. The summer climate has a most beneficial effect upon thoroughbreds.
