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SPECIAL RACES TO BE FRAMED 4 Racing Secretary Nathanson Now Arranging These Attractions. First to Bo Run at Oriental Park Opening Day, November 80. Club House 3Iembersliip Increased. a HAVANA, Cuba, November 17. General Manager Frank J. Bruens recent announcement of the intention of the Cuba-American Jockey and Auto Club to add feature races of substantial value to the Oriental Park-program every Sunday and holiday throughout the winter meeting, which will open Thanksgiving Day, has met with the hearty approval of all horsemen now here, and has resulted in attracting to Cuba a number of high-class racers, whose owners prior to the announcement had not planned on a winter campaign in Cuba. Racing secretary Martin Nathanson, whose generous program had already attracted the favorable attention of horsemen, is now gaged framing special races, with added val-jues of 52,000 and ,500. The first of these will be run on the opening day. Coming j las a voluntary offering on the part of the management, these contests will contribute materially to the success of the meeting, even though they involve an average distribution of ,500 on the day on which they are programmed. Mr. Nathanson is a past master in his chosen profession and invaria-jbly has an accurate knowledge of the racing material at his command. He can be ed upon to bring to the post in these special events, which will close a few days prior to their decision, every horse of high quality that is on the grounds and ready to race. The innovation of abolishing the early closing stake fixtures and increasing the value of the overnight races, recently decided upon by the management of the Cuban track, made a great hit with horsemen when Mana- i ger Bruen outlined the clubs new policy, j The new order of things will mean sharper J and keener racing and a much wider dis-1 tribution of the moneys offered for the 100-day period, and cannot fail - to be of ; material assistance in popularizing Havana as a winter racing point. The other important change that will be put into effect the coming meeting is in the system of Avagering. There will be no betting this winter except through the pari-mutuel machines. For some years past Oriental Park has had betting with both the books and machines. The pressure of experience and the well-founded and overwhelming suggestion of the vast majority of recog- t Continued on second page. SPECIALRACES TO BE FRAMED Continued from first page. nized racing patrons and horsemen generally caused the management to adopt this change and to eliminate all wagering through hook-makers. The sensible, modern and preferable plan to confine betting on races run at Oriental Park to the mutuel machines, the same as is in vogue on most of the United States tracks, was adopted after careful and wise consideration. The betting ring at Oriental Park is extensive and the pari-mutuel plant will be perfected to handle the great increase in the volume of business that is certain to result. The management is well satisfied with this new policy of a single style of betting, which means equity for all and special advantage to none, and will be strongly commended by all racing patrons and especially by those whose interest in the continued success of Oriental Park is sincere. The Oriental Park clubhouse, which since 1 its opening two years ago has each winter been the meeting place of Havanas social elite, promises to bo even more popular at this coming meeting, judging by the mam-recent additions to the membership list This handsome structure, a combination of Moor-i ish and Greek architecture, which was erected at a cost of over 00,000, is one of the show places of Havana. It is a commodious structure, complete in every detail and furnished in a sumptuous manner under the supervision of one of New Yorks leading decorators. The lower floor is set aside for luncheon rooms and a gentlemens cafe. The next floor is given over to two immense lounging rooms, surrounded by spacious verandas. From the south veranda, members and their guests can obtain an unobstructed view of the races.
