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AMERICAN VISITORS Already Arriving at Havana for Winter Racing Season. Approximately -700 Horses Available for Meeting No Scarcity of Good Hiding Material. HAVANA, Cuba, November 22. Although the inauguration of the forthcoming winter season of racing at Oriental Park is almost two weeks distant, there is already noticeable arrival of American visitors, who have come to be on hand for the opening. The larger hotels, patronized extensively by the lacing folks, are filling up rapidly and assuming an air of activity characteristic of the approach of the racing season, while the principal business houses report a gradually increasing trade, due to the steady influx of tourists, which appears to have started this year earlier than usual. There has been a noticeable decline in the rates charged by many of the hotels, while restaurant prices also show a downward tendency. Cuba apparently has recovered from the business depression of the last two years and on all sides there appears to be a returning period of prosperity for the island republic. Havana is already making extensive, plans to welcome and entertain this winter the greatest throng of visitors that ever flocked to these shores. The removal of passport and income tax regulations has served as a big boon to the tourist trade between the United States and Cuba, and the new order of things is much appreciated by all incoming visitors. The sole regulation required now upon entering Cuba is to pass inspection by the health officer of the port before debarkation, and this is now accomplished easily and without the least discomfort to the passengers. As a matter of fact travel between ones home in the United States and Cuba is now just as easy as going from one city of the. United States to another. HOUSES ARRIVING BALLY. The stables at Oriental Park are rapidly filling up with thoroughbreds awaiting the bugle call opening day. It is expected that approximately 700 horses will be available for the meeting, and of this number close to ;,00 are already upon the scene of action. The remainder will reach here following the close of the Bowie meeting. Presiding steward John Hachmeister and the other racing officials are due to arrive about a week prior to opening day. With an abundance of good horses fit and ready to fill the tempting races with which the program book will be so well supplied it is indeed a pleasing prospect that the patrons of Oriental Park are facing. That there will be no scarcity of first-rate riding material is evident from the number of good jockeys already here or who are due to arrive shortly. Among the number are Frank "Wilson, who will ride for Edward Cebrian ; A. Pickens, under contract to IS. L. Fitzgerald; E. Ambrose, who will pilot the horses of Edward F. Seagram ; G. Fields, contract rider for W. Dondas; J. Callahan and G. Bruening, who will ride under the direction of Kenneth Karrick, trainer of the W. It. Coe stable ; B. Scheffell and H. Kaiser, who arc under engagement to ride for W. F. Knebelkamp, and T. Brothers, the promising Kentucky lad, who will be under the wing of W. A. McKinney. Other riders of more or less prominence are George Walls, Ford Hunt, J. Arvin, Austin McLaughlin, L. Try-on and A. Yerrat. CASINO NOW OPEN. The Havana winter social season was inaugurated last Thursday, November 1C, with the opening of the La Playa Casino for the season of 1922-23. The opening was a brilliant one and a pronounced success, with leaders of the Havana political, commercial and social worlds being conspicuous in the ray throng of over 1,500 persons that graced the occasion. The splendid repast prepared under the supervision of R. LL Johnson of New York wa3 thoroughly enjoyed by the guests, wlio later on tempted fortune at the roulette wheels or indulged in dancing to the strains of the delightful music of a native orchestra. Under the management of F-ank J. Bruen, who has surrounded himself with a most capable staff of assistants, the second season of the Casino under American supervision seems destined to surpass anything of its liind ever attempted in Cuba. The costly Almendares Hotel, the finest of its kind on the island, Avhich last year was acquired by the Jockey Club Interests, will open for the season December 1, and judging by advance bookings it should prove even more popular than last year. Being situated adjacent to the race track, Country Club and La Playa bathing beach the Almendares has become a favorite stopping place for racing folks and those American visitors preferring the outdoor life and the irany advantages not possessed by the city he tela.
