The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-08-21
BILLY KELLY IS GREATEST HORSE
 OF 2-YEAR- -OLDS
Little Gelding Ranked With the Immortal Hamburg and the Unbeaten Colin Carries 135 Pounds to I'm pressive Victory. ..

Illle nere yeSteTudy III the Grab Bag Handicap. He carried | the heavy impost of 135 pounds and defeated a big field of high class colts and Allies in the exceptionally fast | time of Ill 2-5. So impressive was his victory that expert horsemen were | unanimous in proclaiming Billy Kelly | one of the best horses ever produced l in America. They placed him on a | pinnacle alongside of the immortal | Hamburg and the unbeaten Colin and | predicted he would develop into a better weight carrier than the once mighty Roseben.
 The turf records are replete with stories of wonderful performances by great thoroughbreds, but they reveal l that Hamburg, Novelty and Endur- ance by Right were the only juveniles that have carried 1855 pounds and beat the best of their age as Billy Kelly did yesterday. And none ever accom- plished their wonderful feats in such sensational style as did Billy Kelly. He got away from the barrier badly, was interfered with several times and then came on under severe punish ment and won by half a length. At his saddle girth as he crossed the fin ish line was W. R. Goes Sweep On. Five lengths further back Col. Living ston staggered home in third place. To win the race under such adverse conditions was considered wonderful but when his excellent time was hung | up notable horsemen and novice race- gOers joined in shouting his praise He received the applause of a F'utur- ity winner as he passed the judges stand and more when he returned to the scales. Then crowd of several thousand followed him to the paddock to inspect more closely and pay him greater homage. And from every ones lips fell these words: He's the best two-year-old since the days of Colin"
 Billy Kelly was the favorite for the event and his victory brought joy to a large majority of the 10000 persons who saw the contest. Among them was Commander J. K. l.. Ross, the Canadian sportsman, who recently bought the little speed marvel for $30 900. The race resulted in a double victory for the Commander, as Col. Livingston also carried his colors, but it was the great feat accomplished by Billy Kelly that caused him to bubble over with enthusiasm. He was liter ally overcome with joy. After being overwhelmed with congratulations he hurried to the paddock and saw his new sensation cooled out While there he petted and patted the gelding for half an hour.
 And Billy Kelly seemed to appre- ciate the honors heaped on him. He didn't fret about the fuss being made over him. He was far from being tired and accepted his daily piece of sugar. He wasn't as sleepy looking as Camp fire, but neither was he fractious. Even his cold bath failed to annoy him, and when his toilet was compIet- ed he walked back to his stable more unconcerned than when he entered. He showed absolutely no signs of nervousness.
 The Grab Bag is one of the real sporting events of the year. It is a sweepstakes of $10O each with a guar
 anteed purse of $4,00O and the horses
 that may be leased for the event.
 More than three score of the best
 juveniles in the country were nomin-
 ated, but only seventeen were entered
 over night. Of these five were with
 drawn, and the even dozen which went
 to the post were the cream of their
 age. Although all were a bit frac-
 tious at the post Mars Cassidy sent them away on even terms.
 Sweep On had the most early speed
 and took command before 100 yards
 had been run. Once in front he skinned along close to the rail at a terrific pace, with Harry Payne Whit ney's Sticking second, H. H. Hewitt Ginger third and Billy Kelly fourth Rounding the bend Sweep On in
 creased his lead to two lengths over
 Ginger, the second horse while Billy
 Kelly, unable to get clear sailing
 dropped back half a dozen lengths.
 Entering the home stretch MT Coe'.
 colt looked like an easy victor. Ht was leading his field by two length; : and showing no signs of distress, while . the others behind him, except Billy
 Kelly, were under the whip. Bill! Kelly was in a pocket, and not unti an eighth of a mile from home coult |, Jockey Sande find clear sailing. Whe1 !. that point was reached Here H, y Comes'' rent the air. It meant tha bllly hSlly was CO1u1IS, LndL ne wa
 coming fast, making bid for tn, !, lead.
 8 At the final sixteenth post he was g
 the leaders side. Then followed !. desperate struggle to the end. Sweel @ On would not quit and Sande wa
 compelled to do his mightiest to ge ,. Commander Ross $3O,O0O speed mar
 vel home in front.
 J. After Charley Thorley had won tn
 opening dash in George W. Lofts col
 ors he was claimed by Willis Sharp s' J<ilmer in retaliation for the taking o
 Ceramic by the New York sportsma, " few days ago. Mir. Loft was good winner by the deal, as he onl l. paid $500 for Thorley at public auc y ton and received s2,000 and the purs
 fdr him yesterday
 !: The Red Cross and its auxiliarie 'I will be benefited greatly as a result c
 the Red Cross Steeplechase and tn |' receipts from the special days spor a The former netted S1O,4O0 while tn
 associations check totalIed $4,414.4t