Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-10-19
RuheC|oses Fast
ForSecond Place
Favored Greek Ship
Runs Sixth at 6 to 5
Before Record 26,014
Pictures on Page B..
By Brion Bell, Jr.

Wilwyn, a handsome four-year-
old colt from England whose
trainer is only 81. proved to a
skeptical crowd of 26,014 racing
fans at Laurel yesterday that his
record of 10 straight victories in
his homeland was no f1uke.
Wilwyn did it by winning the
first running Of the $50, 900 Wash
ington. D. c.. International from a
field that included three other
foreign horses and three Ameri-
can-breds. The race was run at a
mile and half over the inner
grass course, and a walk-up start
was used.
Wilwyn, whose owner. Robert c
Boucher, is a wealthy farmer in
Kent, closed stoutly to win by a
length and three-quarters from
the Hasty House Farms Ruhe,
who was third in the 1851 Ken
lucky Derby. Another English
horse, Zucchero, was third.
Winner Pays SIS.
Overlooked by the bettors who
fovored the American contingent
of Greek Ship, Ruhe and Plaster
in that order, Wilwyn's victory
brought a lot of pleasure to his
owner and 21-year-old John
Waugh, the apple-cheeked Brit
Usher who trains the colt. It also
brought joy to his hackers for the
English colt, son of Pink Flower,
paid off at SIS, $720 and $500.
In finishing second, Ruhe was
barely half a length ahead of
Zucchero, who had been rated as
the best of the foreign entrants
but was considered an uncertain
because of his roguish
tendencies. Niederlander, an 18-
to-1 long shot from Germany. was
a close fourth. missing the show
money by only neck.
Mrs. H. L. Strauss Maryland
bred Plaster was fifth, while Greek
Ship, the Brookmeade Stable en-
try who went off as the 6-to-5
favorite, was the big disappoint-
ment of the race. He faded badly
halfway through the long grind
and finished sixth despite the best
efforts of Eddie Arcaro. The
Canadian -owned Indian Hemp,
ridden by Johnny Longden,
brought up the rear in the field
of seven.
Exciting Race.
It was one of the most exciting
races run in Maryland in years.
Four different horses. Zucchero,
Greek Ship, Indian Hemp and
Wilwyn, led during portions of
the race and large-sized blanket
could have been tossed over the
field at the half-mile mark.
The crowd, almost completely
quiet during the early running,
started cheering when the horses
went past the stands the first time
and continued to roar as the lead
changed frequently. The big
crowd applauded Jockey Nanny
Mercer vigorously as the unsmil-
ing Englishman brought Wilwyn
back to the winners circle.
The victory. gained with a rush
in the stretch, brought Wilwyn a
bid to run in the Pimlico Special
next Saturday, but Owner Bou-
cher did not say whether he would
accept the. invitation.
Wilwyn's time was 2::30A for
the mile and half and broke the
old track record of 1885 set by
Thiercelin last October.
Foreign Horses Steal Show.
Experts had thought the foreign
horses, despite the attempt by
Laurel to give them conditions to
which they are accustomed
would be at a disadvantage in
the international. They pointed
to the sharp turns at Laurel and
the little time the foreigners
would have to become acclimateo
here. The betting public agreed
with this opinion but obviously
the invaders didn't get the word
The foreign thoroughbreds stole
the snow and had not Ruhe CLOSED
fast it would have been a sweer
for the overseas entries. Ever
Niederlander, the German horse
that wasn't expected to do 6
(See LAUREL, Page BID