New-York tribune., 1918-02-25
Racing Popular
Sport In Cuba,
Figures Show

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb. "a. - Racing
IN Havana, now the only sport of its
Slnd IN progress north OF the equator
IS fast becoming the national pastime
OF the Cubans. Always lovers of out
door recreation. they have taken to
the sport of kings in q manner that
makes it plainly evident that racing
will. in time. be even more popular
than baseball on the island.
II. d. Brown has spent fortune
in the construction of Oriental Park
He laid out most protentious plans
which, in the beginning, were scotfed
at by those who had little faith that
successful race meeting could be
given in Cuba. His original ambitious
policies have been steadily adhered
to, and it is no idle boast to say that
the winter meetings at Oriental Park
now compare lavorably with any in
the United States.
In Natural Bowl
Certainly there is no finer race
course anywhere than here. Situated
as II is in a natural bowl, with the
erandstand fully twenty feet above
the track. visitors are enabled to see
the running of every foot Of every con-
test
The meeting this winter has de-
pended almost solely on local sup
port. and its success has been re-
markable. There is little patronage
from the United States, owing to the
war but despite this the crowds are
as large and the volume of specula-
tion heavier than any previous season.
x
firmly established here, and that each
succeeding meeting should be better
than its predecessor.
A number of stakes were hung up
by the Cuban american Jockey Club
this winter about twenty in all. Purses
ranging in value from 81 200 to $1,000
We're added to these events. The WIN
ners' portions, with the entrance
moneys, have amounted in some in
stances to as much as $4,000. These
stakes attracted a better class Of
horses, and already several horsemen
have announced their intention OF
bringing down some high class stake
performers next winter to compete in
these fixtures.
Large crowds have been in attend
ance, and on Sundays the smallest
number that has turned out las been
5000. Red Cross Day, January 81, was
a notable one in a racing way. 1t
marked the largest gathering that ever
turned out to witness contest Of
thorough in Cuba. Fully $4,000
persons crowded into Oriental Park.
The 200 boxes in the grandstand and
clubhouse were all filled. Every So
cially prominent family and all the
notables in official life were represent
ed. Many Of the boxes were filled
with prominent Americans The boxes
set apart for the diplomatic corps were
decorated with the flags of the ma
tions they represented.
No "Deadheads"
Every one who entered the gates that
day paid an admission, and the entire
and Cuban Red Cross funds The Gu
ban American Jockey Club got up
programme of eleven events, seven of
which were for thoroughbreds and four
of the novelty sort. One Of the latter
was FOR army horses ridden by Cuban
army officers, another for ponies and
another an event in which thorough
breds competed against foot runners,
motorcycllsts and automobiles.
The untiring efforts Of Nine. Mari
ana Seva de Menocal. president of the
Cuban Red Cross and wife of the Pres
ident Of the republic, went long way
toward making the occasion the great
success it was, and the public respond
ed in an enthusiastic manner to the
call of the "irst lady of the land.'
A review of the great success of the
race meeting would be incomplete if it
lacked praise for the wonderful work
at the barrier of Starter James T. Mil
ton. His starts have been prompt and
good, and during the first fifty days in
not single instance was rider fined
or suspended by the starter. General
Manager Brown has surrounded him
self with a staff of officials that he NAV
we'll be proud Of. All are men rccoe-
nized in the States as the best in their
line, and their efforts have in meas
ure helped make the meeting the big
success it has been.