Evening star., 1916-01-14
CUBA RACES PLEASE
Chief Steward Fitz Gerald Has
Gained Confidence of Patrons.
UNDESIRABLES SENT AWAY
Rules With Iron Hand and Un-
scrupulous Trainers and
Owners Feel It.

NEW YORK, January 14.-Althougn
the quality of the horses is not up to
the mark, the racing at Havana's big
track, promoted by H. D. Brown. has
been made clean through the vigilant
methods employed by the officials
headed by, c. ]. Fitz Gerald. If the
present meeting in Cuba, which is
sch heduleI to end in March. is success
full from a financial point of view
Brown will be entitled to praise for
permitting the officials to have their
own way. The Cubans will patroniza
honest sport. but first they must be
convinced that everything is "on the
up and up before they will swell the
gate receipts. says Joe villa, who has
just returned from Havana, in the
Evening Sun.
Brown opened his splendid race
course a year ago, but the Cubans. often
stung, did not take much stock in the
venture, which involved an outiay OF
100000. Yet after the first campaign.
which was frequently spoiled by rainy
weather. Brown finished with about
$4,000 on the right side of the ledger
Brown had spent nearly twice this
amount in needed improvements. He
also engaged the various track officials
at high salaries and hung UP liberal
purses to attract turfnen. incidentally
Brown made it clear that he did not in
tend to interfere with the officials, and
SO far he has kept his word.
In Absolute Control.
Fitz Gerald. who is the chief steward.
lis in absolute control of the racing. He
rules with an iron hand. He has stopped
rough riding by reckless jockeys I'm
scrupulous trainers and owners who usu-
ally care nothing for public form have
been privately warned or openly dis
ciplined The use of dope" las been
stopped and queer rides" have been in
vestigated without fear or favor. AS
result Of this vigilance. the racing has
been so true to form that eleven book
makers in the betting ring are losers up
to date.
Many undesirab BILE Americans who
went to Havana several weeks ago to
participate in the betting at the track
have been rounded up by the officials
and have been deported by the Cuban
government. John J. Ryan, who is nick
named Badly" and once owned the
crack sprinter Reliable. was notified
last week that he could not pass the
gatemen.
Undesirables Not Wanted.
Chappie Moran, dealer in green
goods and gold bricks. discovered to his
sorrow that Cuba had become too hot
who advertised in Chicago turf pa
per that he was prepared to put over
series of long shots at Oriental Park.
also found himself III trouble. Scores
of touts. broken down sports, pick
pockets and other crooks who focked
into Havana before Christmas were
taken in tow by the police at the re-
quest of the race track managers.
The determination of Brown, there
fore, to have clean racing. is slowly
but surely bringing about the desired
result President Menocal is frequent
visitor to the clubhouse Officers of
the Cuban army are taking interest in
the sport. Americans are arriving daily
to enjoy whirl at the books or the
mutuels with no fear of trouble from
the authorities. In short. horse racing
under the influence of the Jockey Club
is catching on in Cuba.
Books and Mutuels at Havana.
Each bookmaker operating at the Ha-
vana track must pay heavily for the
privilege. He is compelled to spend
$3.50 Il day. including the salaries of
his clerks and the fee to the track.
The betting, which is not heavy, is
about equally divided between the
books and the machines. The track
owners take 10 per cent of the money
wagered in the mutuels, together with
the "breakage." Saturdays and Sun
days the machines handle all the way
from $4,000 to $4,000. but the other
days of the week do not show more
than an everage of $4,000. The books.
except Saturdays and Sundays, each
have taken in perhaps $1,000 day, the
largest wager being not more than
5000, while the smallest is ST.
Because OF the limited speculation
and the heavy tariff, the books have
been struggling desperately to keep
above the surface. The paid attendance
Saturdays runs up to 5000, with per-
haps 5000 Sunday. while during the
rest Of the week. 500 persons are reg
ular ticket buyers. The free list is so
| small that it amounts to nothing. The
track is permitting racing information
| to got to the poolroomS without COL
llectinE the usual rake-off. There is
little to be gained in this direction, 1t
| is declared.
EXPELLED FROM HIS PARTY.
Dr.. Karl Liebknecht, Socialist, Ac.
cused of "Infractions of Discipline"
| BERLIN, by wireless to Sayvillc Janu-
ary 14.-"By a vote Of sixty to twenty
five, the socialist caucus has expelled
from membership in the socialist party
DR.. Karl Liebknecht for continuous gross
infractions Of party discipline" the Over
seas News Agency announces.
"The socialist newspapers are discussing