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HAVANA TRACK DRYING OUT Fast Going Predicted for Remainder of This Week. Scatter Accounts for Main Contest at Oriental Park Walter H. Triumphs in Opening Race. HAVANA, Cuba, Jan. 6. Racing was conducted this afternoon over a track pronounced slow, but which dried out well under the combined efforts of warm sunshine and a large force of men and machines. Should there be no change in weather conditions the going should be fast for the remainder of the week. A good band of sprinters started in the fourth race of the day, which was one of the best offerings of the seven-race program. It resulted in a spirited finish, in which the son of Sir Gallahad HI. and Startle, named Scatter, which races for the New York-owned Pauline Stable, stood a drive courageously to head C. E. Lenahans Tamerlane for the major portion of the purse. The winner was ridden by W. Prior. S. Gorbets Valley was third, with J. E. Smallmans Nelson fourth. The winner was a pronounced choice with the players and the victory was a popular one. There was considerable bumping and crowding in the stretch, for which the winner was partly responsible. Working his way up on the. extreme outside of the leaders on the stretch turn, he bore over steadily toward the inner rail, despite the efforts of Prior to keep him straight. In doing so he forced back Nelson, which was racing on the inside of him, and eliminated him from further contention. However, when Nelson was under pressure to keep stride with Tamerlane, Scatter continued toward the inner rail and bumped Tamerlane slightly and then straightened out and bore toward the outside. In a driving finish that left the winner in doubt until the judges proclaimed Scatter the victor, the two crossed the finish line. Valley, which in the meantime had raced Continued on twentii-spcnnd page. HAVANA TRACK DRYING OUT Continued from irst page. in a forward position, saved ground entering the stretch and outlasted Nelson for the thirdportion of the purse. Racing was conducted under clear, warm skies and in the presence of a large midweek crowd.. The majority of the winners were given healthy support and the racing was brisk and spirited. Two-year-old colts and geldings had their first opportunity to display their running abilities in the opening race of the day. The winner came from the New York-owned stable of Dr. Irving Jacobs and is a bay son of Spanish Prince II. Fair One, called Walter H. This youngster was ridden by C. Ralls and at the end of the two furlongs, showed the way to Melcher and Benedict, racing as an entry for F. Tyler. The latter two are named for the general auditor and chief calculator of the Oriental Park force. There was little delay at the post, and when the webbing was released, Melcher settled quickly into his stride and moved into command. Walter H. moved up fast on the outside, while Fred Scott and Billy Bob were green and sluggish at the post. Melcher continued to show the way to the final furlong post, where Walter H. moved up and joined him. The two raced away from the others and at the end the Jacobs colt proved the better. Benedict, which had swerved in the running, came again under hard urging to outlast Billy Bob. The latter, when he appeared to be racing straight inside the final furlong, swerved suddenly towards the inside and lost some ground. He came again at the end. The winner was accorded considerable support, and the victory proved a popular one. The locally-owned Gilded Arch, racing for S. S. Friedlein and ridden by H. Louman, turned in a smashing effort to account for the third race of the day, a short sprint for platers. The winners margin over Broken Stone, from the Pinetree Farm, was a head, while lapped on the two at the finish was B. McDonalds Hold. The winner was made the medium of an old fashioned "killing" and was supported with rare confidence that drove his price from an opening of 15 down to 5 at post time. When the start came, Gilded Arch dwelt slightly and was last of his field to leave. Louman sent him into contention with a rush after he settled in his stride and turning for home was lapped on the leaders. Broken Stone, which raced close up all the way, had moved into command at the furlong post and Ensor tried vainly to keep him going. Broken Stone faltered in the final seventy yards and gave way to the winner, which came again under urging. Hold, which was on the outside of the leaders turning for home, made a determined effort and finished gamely at the end. A. G. Tarn furnished the winner of the second race in the seven-year-old Frank Light, The winner was ridden by J. Gilbert and after a drive through the stretch led home Princess Henry, racing for J. C. Crem-ens, and W. E. Thurbers Musketeer. The winner worked his way up on the inside from a slow beginning, stood a long drive gamely and at the end had a scant half-length margin over Princess Henry. The latter was one that raced well from the start when put under urging, and held on well to the end. Musketeer, another that was in a forward position from the start, finished gamely to be third. A collection for W. C. Daly, who. is ill in the Anglo Saxon Hospital, was started yesterday. He will be sent from here to a western sanitarium for treatment Jockey E. Neal was fined 5 for disobedience at the barrier January 5, by order of the starter.
