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PUBLIC DEMANDS MUTUELS Popularity of "Iron Men" Responsible for Discarding of Book-making at Havana Track. CINCINNATI, Ohio, October 16. Book-making on race tracks was dealt a severe j blow when the Cuba-American Jockey and Auto Club, operating the Oriental Park race j track near Havana, recently announced through its general manager, Frank J. Bruen, that this system of wagering used in conjunction with the pari-mutuels at the Cuban track since the inception of racing there nine years ago would be abolished and that only the mutuels would be operated at future meetings. The announcement is significant and indicates plainly the trend of the limes. The books have been given a fair trial at Havana, as elsewhere, and have been found wanting. The mutuel system is what the public demands. This applies more particularly to Havana, where the mutuels have been growing in popularity with each passing year. Sixteen bookmakers operated at the Cuban track last winter and now they will be compelled to transfer their scene of operations to other winter courses. Manager Frank Bruen, who has been paying an extended visit to Latonia in behalf of the forthcoming Havana meeting, declared before his departure for Maryland that he has heard nothing but words of commendation over the change in connection with the method of betting. He believes it will have a most wholesome influence on the racing and redound to the benefit of the sport. Public opinion in Havana, he said, was in favor of the change, and already he has received numerous letters from Cuban sportsmen commending the club for its action. Mr. Bruen has visited most of the American racing centers this fall and after doing missionary work at the Maryland tracks will go to New York to conclude his labors in this country. He expects to leave for Havana the latter part of this month. The first consignment of horses destined for Oriental Park left Montreal last Monday, consisting of four cars. These are now safe at the Cuban track. The next special will leave Toledo at the conclusion of the Continued on second page. PUBLIC DEMANDS MUTUELS Continued from first page. meeting at that point, about October 29. Then will follow a special that will carry horses racing: at Empire City and Laurel and will bo shortly followed by the Pimlico special. Another shipment will - depart at the conclusion of the Bowie meeting and this will be aic last. Conditions in Cuba, accordnig to Mr. Bruen, are improving steadily and the country appears to be on the eve of another period of prosperity. The Casino, which was acquired by the Jockey Club last year, will open for business November 16. The fine new Almendares Hotel, situated close to the race track and bathing beach, will open for the season early in December. The Scvilla Hotel, the leading hotel in Havana and conducted by the same management as the Hotel Biltmore in New York, is arranging to take care of an increased patronage by the construction of a hundred additional rooms. The new addition will be ready about the middle of December. There has been a decrease in passenger and express rates to Cuba since last year and American visitors are not required to secure passports or income tax clearances. The official roster for the Havana meeting is as follows: Thomas Monahan, president; F. J. Bruen, general manager; E. F. Krugel, auditor; John Haehmeister, presiding steward; C. H. Lansdale and E. Burke, associate stewards; J. F. Milton, starter; C. Cornehl-sen, presiding judge; M. Nathanson, racing secretary; J. S. Wallace, assistant racing secretary and clerk of the scales; W. AV. Lyles, paddock judge; 1-7 W. Ashe, track veterinarian; J. McLaughlin,- timer; S. S. Bender, patrol judge.
