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SENSATIONAL FINISH Master Hand Comes From Rear to Win at Oriental Park. His Performance Sparkling and Meets Approval of Spectators Ivy Scores Again. HAVANA, Cuba, Dec. 1G. Racing was resumed here today at Oriental Park after the usual Monday lay-off with a goodly attendance on hand to enjoy the sport that was held under ideal weather conditions and over a fast track. The principal offering was a three-quarters handicap, for all ages, and Master Hand was returned the winner after a sensational performance. It was Master Hands second appearance of the meeting, he having also won in his initial start here. Today the sen of Ballot began slowly and jockey W. Smith did not hurry him along. He raced in the rear for half the journey and not until entering the stretch did his rider call on him. But when aroused the big fellow quickly cut down the distance separating him from the leaders and, coming through on the inside, caught and passed Variation to win drawing clear. It was an impressive showing and met the approval of the spectators, who voiced their pleasure in prolonged cheering. The three-year-old filly, Ivy, which won on i the occasion of her first start at this meet-I ing, came back this afternoon and duplicated that success when she finished a length and : a half in front of her opponents in the second race. It was John A. Scott Jr., which set the pace to the stretch, where he gave way and dropped behind, leaving Ivy and Amber Fly to battle it out for first honors. The latter finished fast and gamely, but was not good enough to beat the Finnigan filly. JUDGE SHELLEYS OPINION. Judge William H. Shelley, racing secretary at Oriental Park, commenting on the purchase by J. O. Keene at the Simms Xalapa Farm Sale in New York, of Leonardo II., said the Kentucky turfman had bought the fastest and cheapest racer he had ever seen. The horse, .in his opinion, is worth ?50,000. Judge Shelley said the time Leonardo II. made at Lexington, April 25, 1921, as a three-year-old, carrying 10: pounds, in an event at a mile and a sixteenth 1 -A2, is likely to stand for years. "The sale of Eternal," observed the Judge, "marked the disposal of another great horse at a cheap price. I was in the judges stand at Laurel when the match race between Eternal and Billy Kelly took place, the distance being three-quarters of a mile. The pair broke perfectly, racing head and head, Eternal getting the decision by a narrow margin." Judge Shelley said Keene, who has nino horses racing at Oriental Park, in charge of Lige Brewster, will come to Havana around January 1. Keene is building a race course on his farm near Versailles, Ky., which will be one of the greatest attractions for horsemen in the Blue Grass region. C. K. G. Billings, long a devotee of trottiiv-races. is in Havana, anchored in the bay in his yacht, one of the largest and finest vessels of its kind in the world. Mr. Billin-s and party came from Miami and will remain here several days. All are daily visitors at Oriental Park. They have been honor gues at several dinners in the clubhouse. Ihe Tuesday night dinner-dance, attended bv the social-elect of Havana, amazed the SaborateParty flral decorati"s were LOTT NEAL PROMISING. When racing opened at Oriental Park thero appeared among the number of apprentice riders Lott Neal, 17, hailing from Benton. 111., brought here by Pat Stanton. Neal had been riding on the coal oil circuit, having ho Idea race courses were over a half mile "When he beheld the royal palms, roses and general radiancy of Oriental Parle he said the folks back home would not believe it if he wrote about it. He rode Glenlivet December 2 finishing third to Goldmark and Gup- Sin T,Tsda he P"ted two winners. I he Gaff, a long shot, and Nimrod. Neal love -headed, is one of many promising bovs at the Havana track. Capt. Clover, game old racer and useful horse, ended his racing career in a tragic way. Sent to the post last Thursday in a five and a half furlong event, he was second choice to Nimrod and Variation. F. Seremb-V had the mount. Immediately after the start Capt. Clover fell, turning three complete somersaults, Seremba spinning through the air like a circus performer. The boy rolled to safety, sustaining many bruises. Capt. Clover for five minutes appeared to bo lifeless. Track attendants thought he was dead. Dr. F. W. Ashe, making an examination, found the frontal bone of Capt. Clover had been fractured. The arrival at Oriental Park course of two bands of racers from Lexington Ky presents a probem difficult of solution "iii finding room where there isnt any.
