The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-27
MANY HORSES SEEK
S-YEAR-OLD CROWN
Billy Kelly, Purchase, Dun-
bOyne, Eternal, Vindex and
Cirrus Are Favored.
SWEEP ON HAS FRIENDS
Struggle for Title Promises to
Furnish Plenty of Thrill
ing Sport.

For the first time in n decade chief
interest in racing this season centres
around the three-year -olds rather than
ohe juveniles. That is because of tho
| large number OF three-year-olds which
| performed we'll enough in competition
last year or in trials this spring to
warrant the belief that they have a
chanace TO earn the coveted crown
In recent years It was simply "A cues
ton OF which one OF a few would win
| premier honors. This season there ars
| at least dozen any one OF which 10
| liNSly to carry on the title. Billy Kelly.
the renowned gelding owned by Com
mander j. X. L. Ross. was proclaimed
| king OF the juveniles last year, but A.
| moet score Of trainers and owners re-
fused to admit he was best. All heaped
praise on tho great son OF Dick welles,
but each declared that with better rae
Ing luck his charge would have proved
the champions master
Some of these claims were justified
but majority were not Billy Kelly
proved beyond a doubt last year that
no was remarkable horse. He won
many stakes In which he displayed the
qualities of q real champion--speed,
stamina and weight carrying ability.
, That he was beaten by Eternal in the
final test of the season at Maryland
weak ride by Jockey Sande.
In that match race Eternal, with Andy
Schuttinger in the saddle, won by the
marrow margin OF q short head, ana q
! majority OF the thousands who saw tina
contest declared Billy Kelly would have
been returned an easy victor IL the
Jockeys had been reversed.
Trainer BedweiI Confident.
This season Billy Kelly has returned
TO the races apparently as good as ever.
he has started twice at Havre de Grace
ana each time has led homo his field.
These races were sprints, and whether
or not he can carry his tremendous speed
over Derby route Is a matter Of con-
lecture Guy Bedwell, his trainer SAYS
no can, and thousands of racegoers, In
Ciuuing many experts. agree with him.
But there are many competent Judges
VINO say he was raced too much last
year and that 80 many severe contests
VIII tend to sap the strength of any
thoroughbred. They predict he will show
III eHects or them when he meets worthy
company over long distance Of ground.
ana 10 win the coveted honor Billy
Kelly must be able to go a distance at
terrific speed. for opposing him will
DO such famous three-year-olds az J.
W. McClelland's Eternal, Harry Payne
Whitney's Blue Laddie and Vindex. Sam
Hi!ofeth's Cirrus and Purchase, Philip
A. Clark's Dunboyne, Commander Ross's
War Pennant and Sir Barton. Edward
Garrisons BE Frank, w. II. Goes Sweep
On. Richard T. Wilson's Hannibal ard
thunderstorm. and George W. Lofts
Rodgers.
All or these contenders showed cham
pionship calibre last year. but every
one or them at some time or other was
on the ailing list
Eternal suffered from stiffness dur
ing the summer that made him re-
semble cripple. HUE I,addie want
wrong soon after his arrival from Mary
land in the apr!nr. and Vlndex did not
| come around to his best form until late
IN the season. and then did not get AN
opportunity to show his best. Pur-
chase's only ailment was his tendency
TO bolt during race Dunboyne
'bucked" on the eve OF general impor-
tant stakes and was thrown out OF
training Immediately after he won the
Futurity, for which Billy Kelly vas no.
eligible
sweep On Going Wei.
Sweep On was hailed as a wonder be-
ioro going 20 Saratoga, but while NJ
the Spa contracted q skin disease wnl>
Slapped both his speed and etrenstr.
War Pennant was III early in the season
ana was slow to como TO hand He dld
not get going Mt his best until IL.
autumn. Mr.. Wilson's pair aeye-
showed anything remarkable in their
races, but In trials they were as tss.
as any mans horse. Both went wrong
before Tom Healy could get them keyed
up to the highest pitch OF form
Be Frank was III early in the season
and did not win fame until late in the
year. Rodgers ran one good race az
Saratoga. and week later at Belmont
Park pulled up lame.
The trainer OF each Of these great
horses IS confident his pet will beat Com
lnander Ross champion this year NJ
have winterod exceptionally well. taken
on much weight and worked well in tteir
| trials this spring
Which is the best three-year rWv
Is another mooted question. Harry X
knapp's Elm Queen, the Triple Springs
Stables Penrosc. W. X Goes Terentis,
Harry Payne Whitney's Pigeon Wing.
Sticking and NeXstion Commander
Ross Milkmaid. Philip A. Clark's Polka
Dot and Mrs. Joseph T.. Davis's OphelIs
are the contenders. and the trainer. Of
each claims he liza Tho rhau,,,iCr