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SPECTACULAR RACING D Holiday Program at Oriental Park Provides Thrilling Sport. Prince Regent Captures Feature Contest Sensational Finish c in Opening Dash. E p HAVANA, Cuba, Jan. 1. Before a trc-mendous crowd the first days racing of 1 j 1924 was ushered in at Oriental Park under Ideal weather and track conditions. The big attraction of the afternoon was the New s Year3 Handicap and the Florida Stable pro- n vided the winner in the well-bred Prince n Regent in a spirited finish. Prince Ilegcnt was successful the last time at out and was considered to have an excellent chance to duplicate that victory today. He J did so. racing forwardly from the barriers rise and when Romping Mary tired from setting the pace, challenged and after a ter- u rifle duel With Topango outlasted the Dough- n erty representative to win by a half length. a a Topango was a neck in front of Whirlwind and the latter had a head margin over Romping Mary. Another victory for the stable of W. R. Coe , -was recorded when Stone Image beat Trafalgar and Phil Mayers in a close finish. a There was plenty of contention in this race. Somerby was the early pacemakcrr but quit ; j after showing the way to the stretch, -where Trafalgar moved into what appeared as a I c winning lead. However, Stone Image sur- prised the spectators by finishing with a ter- " rific burst of speed that soon brought him 1 alongside of Trafalgar and to victory in the last few strides. The afternoons sport began in auspicious fashion when AV. J. Trimbles Thor, closing j a big gap, scored a sensational victory in the last stride, while Bird Shot was setting the pace, with Fear and Twinkle Bell endeavoring to keep up with the leader. Pickens leisurely dropped Thor back in the rear and , never made a move with him until reaching the far turn. "When called on the Short Grass I j colt made up ground rapidly and, finishing ? -with a remarkable burst of speed, earned a 1 ; neck decision in one" of the best finishes seen here this winter. The proverbial blanket , ; would have covered the first four horses, with only the smallest of margins separating them as they dashed past the winning line. Kay S. was awarded second place and Marmaduke third and, strange to relate, the first three horses came from the extreme rear of the field to finish as named. A band of veterans made up the field in the second race, none being less than five years old. The winner turned up in the Von Tromp mare "Whispering, that races for A. McNeill. Her performance was a good one. She was interfered with at the half mile post and as a consequence lost considerable ground. But after entering the stretch she moved up on the outside and when the pacemaker, Luckpenny, tired, took the lead and drew clear near the end. Huen finished second and might have won but for early interference. He closed a big gap to outlast the fast finishing Ed Garrison, the margin separating the second, third and fourth horses being a matter of a few inches. Adventuress never left the result of the third seriously in doubt. She went to the front at the rise of the barrier and was at no time threatened to win by three lengths from San Diego, which had to be hard ridden to save second place from Be Trueman. Jockey Johnny Callahan was forced to cancel his riding engagements for the day on account of having sprained his back. Mrs. F. Delbarrior has disposed of the platers Polar Cub and All Aglow to A. S. Eastman.
