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FAVORITES BIG DAY First Choices Win Five Out of Six Races at Oriental Park. , . Riverside Scores His First Success of Meeting Books and Mutuels in the Future. i HAVANA, Cuba, December 25. Riverside, the son of Von Tromp, which in former years has been a frequent winner at Oriental Park, scored his first victory of the present meeting when he beat a band of fair platers in the fifth race this afternoon. Riverside, ridden by P. G. Gross, made all the pace and, in a driving finish, defeated Quaker by a half length. From the time standpoint this raca was much the best. It was a great day for followers of favorites, as the first five winners were first choices, though the program was made up of a series of claiming races. In the first, a dash of three-quarters, for maiden two-year-olds. Miss Mazie, the favorite in the betting, with G. Walls in the saddle, beat Gray Bonnet by a head. The winner came from behind in the stretch and in a sinew-straining finish just managed to get up in time. Refrain proved an easy winner in the second. Stutts sent him to the front on tho turn out of the backstretch and after assuming an easy lead took him under restraint and he had a three-length margin over Drapery at the end. Huron II. and Foul Weather set a fast pace in the early stages of the third race, but in the stretch both tired and Hohokus, coming from behind, easily passed the pair and won going away by a length and a half. Sedan, a first time starter at the meeting, was beaten off and pulled up quite lame. Col. Chile, one of the best backed horse3 of the meeting, was the odds-on favorite in the fourth race. Hunt was forced to put up a desperate drive to get him up in the final strides to beat Memphis by a head. Chimera, after following the pace closely to the eighth post, went to the front with a rush and won the closing dash by a couplo of lengths from Pibroch. The latter had a rough trip or he might have won. REVERT TO OLD SYSTEM. In the belief that a considerable number of patrons favor doing their wagering with bookmakers the Cuba-American Jockey Club has decided that commencing Wednesday it will permit twelve books to be operated at Oriental Park. There will be ten books and a combination book in the grandstand and one book located in the field stand. Tho action of the club is in response to what appears to be the popular demand. The usual number of pari-mutuel machines will be in operation for the remainder of the meeting. The dual system of wagering will be the same as used here at the track for a number of past years. Paul Miles and S. J. Kelly arrived today from New Orleans by steamer, bringing three horses for the Miles outfit. They were Lucy Kate, Blazonry and Ashlin. Raymond Boyle, the promising apprentice rider, arrived on tho the same boat and will ride for the Mile3 stable. W. R. Cole, president Nashville, Chatta.-nooga and St Louis Railroad, arrived from Nashville, Tenn., on his annual visit to Cuba and was a visitor at the track today, accompanied by Mrs. Cole. Some twenty yearlings were schooled at the barrier this morning, the majority of them starting and racing down the homestretch in good time. Starter Miltons assistants report most of tho baby racers havo good barrier manners and are ready to bo sent to the races starting January 1. For New Years Day racing secretary Martin Nathanson lias a race framed for youngsters. It will bo a dash of one-quarter of a mile, in which youngsters will carry 115 pounds. Jockey Gantner, who had been engaged to ride Miss Mazie in the first, failed to report and the mount was given to G. Walls, who won with the filly. J. A. Parson claimed Sedan from tho third race for 00. After the race he found that he had secured a bad bargain as tho old horse came out of the race with a perceptible limp.
