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MORE MUD AND RAIN Another Downfall at Havana Detracts from Sundays Sport. 4 Ben Bolts Defeat Outstanding Upset of Afternoon Montillo Beats Neapolitan by Inches. HAVANA, Cuba, Jan. 27. Mere rain and mud. That tells the story for you. Instead of bright, clear skies and summerlike weather that usually prevails here at this time of the year; the "Pearl of Antilles" ha.s had an unusually long wet spell this winter. Rain on a week day is bad enough for a Cuban, on a Sunday it is a catastrophe. As a result of todays downfall Oriental Park entertained the smallest Sunday crowd of the present meeting. However, considering the unfavorable conditions, the attendance was of fair proportions. The track was a sea of mud and even tho big, rugged horse with a fondness for a soft course found it difficult to race in this trying going. It was only to be expected under these circumstances that there would be several surprises and with them disappointments. Such was the case in the third race, where Ben Bolt, equal favorite with Rapid Stride, was beaten by a nose by Golden Chance, given scarcely any attention in a betting way. The backers of Ben Bolt were flattered when their standard bearer assumed command entering the stretch and increased his advantage at the eighth post, appearing to stride freely in the going. Their joy was short-lived, however, for Beu iJiolt tired suddenly with victory in his jjrasp and Golden Chance gaining with every stride in a sensational spurt right at the end, poked his nose in front to catch the judges eyo and earn a well-deserved success. Eyo Bright was third, outlasting Col. Pat in a hard drive. TOUGH OX GItAXDSON. There was another surprise and a close finish in the mile and fifty yards of tho fourth race, in which Armistice outlasted the even-money favorite, Grandson, after a spirited last sixteenth battle. This was a tough race for Grandson and with better racing luck he would have won easily. Ho reared as the barrier was sprung, Avas blocked at the turn out of the backstretch and again in the last sixteenth and, though tiring from his strenuous journey, squeezed through on the inside and just failed to get up. Armistice ran an even race throughout. He raced Jacobean into defeat and taking the lead after rounding the far turn, gamely held on to it, though he also was tiring fast in the difficult going. The principal attraction of the afternoon was the fifth race at one and one-eighth miles and it provided one of the best contests seen here in many a day. Montillo and Neapolitan were first and second choices respectively and, as expected, the y dominated tho running throughout although Squire Wiggins was never far away at any stage. Montilkt was away in the lead and he saved ground by hugging the inner rail throughout. Ho was forced to call on all his reserve energy to outlast the fast finishing Neapolitan, only a head separating the pair as they rushed past the judges. Had the latter not gone a bit wide entering the stretch he might havo won. Majestic rode a grand race on tho winner and the manner in which he nursed his mount along contributed in a great measure to his success narrowly achieved at it was. EAST FOR IJOXA FIDE. Bona Fides well-known ability to splash his way through the mud sent him to tho post an overwhelming favorite in the first race. He did not disappoint his supporters. Williams kept him under restraint until well around the far turn, where he moved to tho front and, being given a free rein, simply ran away from his opponents to win by a wide margin. Rey Ennis closed a big gap to. finish second, as did Wcinland to earn tho short end of the purse. There was a feeling of satisfaction among the backers of Chincoteague in the second race over the way the Trap Rock mare raced through tho deep mud, as she showed tho way to the others. With only an eighth to go things looked bright for the Allen representative, but she finally faltered in tho iast sixteenth and in a twinkling Financial Rooster passed her and then Ruddles out-gamed her for second money. Once in tho lead Financial Rooster drew clear to scoro by a safe margin, while Ruddles closing rush brought that racer from last place to snatch second money in the very last stride. Jockey W. Smith was much in evidence in the concluding races of the afternoon, riding the winners of both, Hainan in the sixth and Seastake in the seventh. In both instances ho brought his mounts up to scoro in the last eighth. It was a tight race for Haman, the Fitzgerald racer getting the decision by a half length, outgaming Randel in a hard drive. Seastake came from last placo to overtake the leaders in the stretch and draw clear at the end.
