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NINTH ANNUAL MEETING To Be Inaugurated at Oriental Park This Afternoon. Conditions Never Better for a Banner "Winter Season Small but Well Matched Fields for Opening Program. HAVANA, Cuba, November 29. The ninth winter season of racing under the auspices of the Cuba-American Jockey and Auto Club begins tomorrow at Oriental Park under the most favorable conditions prevailing since the sport was established in Cuba, All early indications point to the best meeting ever held at Oriental Park. With the return of prosperity to Cuba and the great influx of tourists from the States, prospects are, indeed, bright for a successful meeting. Oriental Park, always a place of beauty, never looked prettier than it does at the present time. The entire plant has been overhauled and repainted since last spring and, better still, the track itself is in as near perfect condition as it is possible to make it. General manager Frank J. Bruen is most enthusiastic over the outlook and has every reason to be so, judging from the number of boxes which have been reserved both for the opening day and the first Sunday. Some two hundred reservations have been made for tables at the dinner-dance which will mark the beginning of the social activities at the clubhouse on Thanksgiving Day after the races. The program for tomorrows racing is made up of six contests with the Thanksgiving Handicap, a dash of a mile, for ,000, provided as the attraction. Six have been named for this inaugural feature, with Cromwell, always formidable over the local course, the top weight and probable favorite. He will find good opponents in Buddie Kean, Coyne and Sea Prince. It should be a sparkling contest. The fourth race, at three-quarters of a mile for all ages, has attracted a fast band of sprinters in Dr. Hickman, Belle of Eliza-bethtown and Little Black Sheep, and with the track lightning fast the spectators should witness a great display of speed. WELL-MATCHED CONTESTANTS. While the fields for the first days racing are not large numerically, the horses named are for the most part well matched, assuring some spirited and interesting racing. The system of wagering has been changed this year, with all speculation confined to mutuels. The horses will be called to the post for the first race at 2:30 p. m. on week days and 2:15 on Sundays. Edward Burke, who will act as one of the stewards of the meeting, was an arrival from New York yesterday. C!. Coinehlsen, who fills the position as judge, also arrived at the same time. The official family is now complete. Thomas Monahan, president of the Cuba-American Jockey Club, is expected within the next few days. Jockeys A. Gantner and F. Woodstock arrived from Maryland. O. Willis has been here for several days. The big stable which Edward Cebrian will campaign here during the winter in charge of trainer John Lowe arrived from Kentucky today. Turf followers from the States were shocked this morning when they learned of the death of Bonnie Barr, an old-time bookmakers clerk. Mr. Barr arrived from the States only a few days ago, but had been in ill health for some time. His death was due to an attack of acute indigestion. The remains will be shipped back to the States.
