New-York tribune., 1918-08-15
Ross Celding
Reaps Harvest
For His Owner
Outclasses Field in Sanford
Memorial-Two-Year-Olds
May Race Later
BY w. |. Macbeth

BY w. ]. Macbeth
SARATOGA SPRINGS. N. Y. Aug.
l4~Billy Kelly is all that trainers
have claimed for him-that is, he is
the best two year-old of the season.
That Commander j. K. L. Ross. of
Canada. made a good bargain when he
purchased the little son OF Dick Welles
Tor $4,000 was made evident at the
track to-day, when the youngster won
the Sanford Memorial Stakes, worth
$3.50, by eight lengths. 1nasmuch as
commander Ross bet $4,000 on Billy
Nelly, that sturdy little geldlng has in
one race all but won his purchase
price.
Billy Kelly's performance was the
best shown by any two-year-old this
season. Just before the first race was
called ram fell IN torrents for about
thirty minutes and transformed the
track from fast to sloppy. BY the time
the youngsters were called to the post
for the Sanford Memorial the track
mad been converted into a mud heap.
In thls kind of going, with 1870 pounds
up, Billy Kelly proved his quality. be-
yond all doubt
The mud caused Terentia, Blairgow-
re and Yurucari to be scratched and
Lion dor to be added. In the early
betting Billy Kelly was made favorite
at Z to 10. He had won race in the
mud in Kentucky in which he beat out
Soionei Livingston by five lengths. The
latter colt was one of Billy kelly's op-
ponents Tor the first time here
Odds Prevent Wagcrs
Many of the 5000 spectators were
anxious to bet on Billy Kelly, despite
ms ms weight and the mud, but they re-
fused to back him at these odds The
layers saved themselves money bv
their niggardly ration, for when the
odcs dropped back to even money
many of the track patrons had re-
sumed their seats in the grandstand,
and were not aware that the odds at
post time were so liberal Commander
boss got his wagers down at an aver
age price of even money.
, ne start was good and prompt but
oily Kelly was slightly interfered with
ana ne soon was fifth. Lion Dor
gap of three lengths with Colonel
LIVINGSTON second, Mormon third and
0Ketchy fourth Billy Kelly began to
WORK his way up in the inside and at
the end of three furlongs was third.
with Lion Dor two lengths in front
and Colonel Livingston a neck in front
of the favorite
iy .Aoi4s raced last around the
turn and caught Lion Dor a furlony
from the finish. Jockey Sande, know
ing how much Commander Ross had
bet on Billy Kelly, was over anxious
TO get to the front and he hit the
little gelding twice with the whip.
Under the influence of the stinging
lash Billy Kelly bounded forward and
keeping up, has fast pace to the end
won by eight lengths from Lion Dor,
lon noth he ;r
of Colonel Livingston.
PolymelIan IS certainly a fast horse,
but the yellow in his makeup is about
footdeep. This handsome horse had
a lead Of eight lengths at the end of
half a mile, and had only three fur
longs more to race in order to win
the fifth event ct seven furlongs. AS
thought he would stick the journey out.
But IN the stretch he began to back
up so fast that at the end he was
third, Bonlface winning by two lengths
with Gloomy Gus second.
The day was a bad one for Com
mander Ross other than the victory
Of Billy Kelly. He expected to win
beaten easily by Right at 15 TO /, and
his imported colt Canso, which had
previously captured his two starts here,
was unable to untrack himself in the
mud and Lorrant won by four lengths
after leading all the way.
The Jockey Club has rescinded the
rule prohibiting the racing Of two
year ods prior to April l. The decision
came in answer to an appeal from
breeders throughout the country. who
declared that their industry was being
crippled through the narrowing of the
market for their produce
Hitherto the moderate priced year
lings commanded ready sale for rae
ing over the winter tracks, but with
this field removed there was absolute
ly no demand for any Juveniles except
those that had stake qualifications.
either in the way of blood or ind-
viduality. Many breeders during the
recent sales at Saratoga had young
sters passed out Of the ring without
d bid, while the balance went at ruin
Gus prices
War Conditions "Bear" Market
1t is generally conceded that it takes
$500 to put a yearlng in the sales
ring at this point. War conditions
helped to further bear" the yearling
market, and the Jockey Clubs action
was taken in order to render relief
to the breeding industry, which must
be maintained at all hazards.
The following letter from Major
August Belmont of the Jockey Club
conveys the idea that the matter might
be reopened at some future time, but
until conditions are materially altered
the period of -year-old racing will
begin on January l of each year. Major
Belmont's letter follows:
Great pressure has been brought to
I bear upon US to rescind this rule by
the breeders, and in view of the eco
romic conditions of the country we
feel that perhaps it is best to yield
to their request, at least for the pres
ent Our only reason for doing this
is our desire to protect the small
breeders against loss at time when
they cannot really afford to bear it."