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INTERESTING RACING Patrons of Oriental Park Treated to Some Good Sport. Little Smoke Lucky to Win Principal Race Third Straight for Havana Electric. HAVANA. Cuba, Dec. 18. Close and spirited finishes always tend to make racing interesting and arouse the enthusiasm of the spectators to a high pitch. It is because such happenings are of almost daily occurrence at Oriental Park that the present meeting is gaining in popularity as it progresses. Today was no exception in this respect and in addition with the successes of a majority of the favorites the afternoons sport was particularly pleasing to the good sized crowd that was in attendance. The fifth race, a three-quarters dash, for all ages, was the chief offering and was in a measure marred by Little Smoke cutting across in front of the others soon after the start, causing a jam in which Muskallonge and Danger Cross suffered the most. But for this the latter might have won. As it was Little Smoke quickly drew away into a big lead, and the advantage thus gained enabled him to outlast Danger Cress, the latter closing a big gap and gaining on the leader with every stride. : VICTORY FOR KEAOLANI. There were eleven starters in the opening dash at five and a half furlongs, with Keaolani the favorite and winner. He had no easy time of it, for Thcssaly contested every yard of the distance and kept the favcrite under a. hard drive to win by a small margin. The followers of form made no mistake in the second race in pinning their hopes in Silver Springs, for the six-year-old Aeronaut gelding matb good, drawing away in the last eighth to score by two lengths. Follow Me, the second choice in the betting, was the One to set the pace for the greater part of the journey and, though no match for the winner, easily held second place safe. The third race was another of those hard-fought contests that are seen here so frequently of late. Clinging Vine was the winner, but only after a terrific struggle from start to finish. Never at any stage of the congest did she have better than a neck advantage. After Crescent pulled up lame at the half mile post Black Mask was the challenger and he raced in closest pursuit to the end, though unable to pass the filly, a head separating the pair as they dashed past the judges stand. S0MEI11JY QUITS BADLY. Havana Electric, which Frank Steinhart bred in Cuba, won his third straight victory when he led home his opponents in the fourth race, with Spods outlasting Kidnap for second place. Sbmerby, of the Caimito Stable, was expected to furnish the real contention heire; but after leading by a good margin for over half the distance, quit when challenged by Havana Electric, the latter drawing away easily at the end. Spods and Kidnap had a hot fight for the secondary honors, with the above mentioned result. Included in the forty-five or more yearlings now being schooled at Oriental Park by E. S. Welter, assisted by Bob Frend, J. Reed and A. Alley, are some of the most promising youngsters ever S3en at the Havana course. S. J. Kelly has Little Rebel and Dunbury Cross, the latter a half-sister of the speedy Cream Puff. She is well built and ought to develop into a star. S. T. Baxter has Only Star. Old Pal belongs to W. Shobrook and W. C. Goodloe has Surrender. -Vendell is a part of Rome Respess string. Wm. McCulloch has Nadine, L. P. Phelps has Cappie and R. J. Harris has Hattiq Maud. W. Hector has Hectors Alley and Harry Corrall belongs to AYilliam Dondas. In W. L. Drakes stable are Lena R., Bill Hare and Capt. Sam. Liege Brewster has three, unnamed. The Caimito Stable has all Cuban-bred yearlings as follows : Aikina, Carlota, Chamr belona, Andresito and Robeta. Every youngster bred on the island looks good.
