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RAINING AT HAVANA Sunday " Downpour Unwelcome Visitor at Oriental Park. Feature Race Declared Off and Another Substituted Perhaps a Big Disappointment. HAVANA, Cuba, Jan. C After a long 6pell of dry and pleasant weather rain proved an unwelcome visitor at Oriental Park today, considerably reducing what was expected to be a large Sunday attendance. However, there was a surprisingly large crowd out despite the downpour and they were well repaid by seeing some good racing under changed track conditions. Probably the giggest disappointment of the afternoon was the failure of the popular equine hero of last year, Perhaps, which was the even-money favorite in the three-quarters dash, run as the fifth race. The old fellow was considered the best of his field and Forst Queen his only serious rival. These calculations were upset when Scissors, with Dawson up, dashed away into the lead and made every post a winning one, scoring by three lengths, with Stacy Adams second a neck in advance of Forest Queen and the favorite never figuring in ther unning. The changed track conditions resulted in so many withdrawals from the regular scheduled feature race, the sixth, a handicap at a mile and seventy yards, that it was declared off and a claiming race substituted. SCORES IX LAST STRIDE. The afternoons sport was inaugurated with a five and a half furlongs dash that furnished an excellent race, with Riposta and Wilton Flanna the principal contestants to the stretch. There Riposta, after leading from the start, went wide and Marjorie "Wood, slipping through on the inside, got up in the last twenty yards to draw clear at the end. Get Km also moved up fast at the same time, but tired slightly in the final yards, though easily outlasting Riposta. One of those sparkling finishes that has marked the racing here this winter came with the running of the second race. Just when the backers of Luckpenny were about to congratulate themselves over their selection a sudden change in the picture flashed before their eyes. They saw their choice, which had been racing three lengths in front from the start, suddenly exhibit signs of distress and before they realized Sky Man, always in nearest pursuit, had overtaken the leader and in a last mighty rush got his head in front as they dashed past the judges. Both were exhausted, the fast early pace of Luckpenny telling at the end. ANOTHER HEAD FINISH. Again in the following race a head margin separated the first two horses at the end. Here it was Horeb which, after racing Spring Vale into defeat, was forced to the limit to 1 outstay Betty Mae. Away to a good start it was Spring Vale that set the early pace. She was done for when the stretch was reached, where Horeb moved into the lead, but not to go unchallenged. For Betty Mae, finishing with a fine burst of speed, contested every incli of the last eighth with the leader and was gaining with every stride, too late, however, to change the result. The veteran mare Carrie Moore and jockey , J. Dawson proved a winning combination in , the fourth race. The eight-year-old daughter of McGee that races under the silks of J. A. Parson, and S. T. Baxters Col. Pat were ; equal choices in this race and the pair dominated the running throughout. Carrie Moore ! was away quickly and, rushing to the front, , set a fast pace, with Col. Pat never far away. The latter challenged at the head of the stretch, but the old mare had enough in reserve to successfully withstand it and drew clear at the finish. There are a number of horses expected here shortly from New Orleans, announcement having been made that several stables are either cn their way or will leave the Crescent City within a few days for Oriental Park. Now that the holidays are over a great influx of tourists from the States will find their way here for a winter vacation, with the racing at Oriental Park as one of the chief diversions.
