Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-18
Iron Liege Odds-On Choice
In Preakness Field Of 7
Weather Key
To Bold Rulers
Bid for Victory
By JOSEPH b. KELLY,
Star Racing Editor

By JOSEPH B. KELLY,
Star Racing Editor
BALTIMORE, May 18-Every-
body had an eye on the sky
today as early birds in an an
ticipated crowd of some 10000
racing enthusiasts awaited the
81st running Of the 100000
added Preakness at Pimlico.
Showers and an of track could
be a key factor in deciding the
mile and three-sixteenths clas-
sic which drew q not-too-select
field of seven starters, over
Swallowed by Calumet Farms
Kentucky Derby-winning Iron
Liege, the odds-on favorite. and
Wheatley Stables Bold Ruler.
who was expected to chase him
home.
The weather forecast called
for a cloudy, warm day, with
temperatures in the 80s and q
possibility Of showers.
The gathering, which might be
witnessing the last running of
the Maryland classic at the Old
Hilltop. second oldest track in
America. included Vice President
Richard Nixon. Mrs. Nixon was
to present the traditional Wood
lawn Vase to the owner of the
winning colt, and the Vice Presi-
dent was to add his congratula-
tions.
EisenhOwer's Son to Attend
The Maryland Jockey Club
welcomed Senators, Treasury
Secretary George M. Humphrey.
President Eisenhowers son, Mai.
John Eisenhower. and his wife.
and the Presidents brother. DR..
Milton Eisenhower, president Of
Johns Hopkins University. along
with thousands of 50 bettors.
The race was to be nationally
televised by CHS, starting at $50
pm. dn Washington it can be
seen over WTOP-TV. Channel 81
>. A slow or muddy track would
give a decided edge to Iron Liege.
a son of Bull Lea, who was out
to win a second leg to go with
his Kentucky Derby triumph to-
ward racing's coveted Triple
Crown. Next months Belmont
Stakes completes the triple.
Most experts felt that a fast.
dry track would almost insure a
two-horse battle between Iron
Liege and Bold Ruler, with a
chance that Clifford Lusskys
front-running Federal Hill would
get into the act. Bold Ruler.
wearing blinkers in a race for
the second time. was a 2-to-1
second choice.
Mud Would Help FavOrite
Mud figures to make Iron
Liege an almost prohibitive ia
vorite, for Trainer Jimmy Jones
thinks his colt is almost unbeat-
able in the of going. Trainer
Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons says
Bold Ruler can handle" the
mud. but the headStrong Mas
rullah speedster is not especially
fond of it. There, also is some
doubt whether he takes kindly
Ito the deep. sandy Pimlco track.
He undoubtedly prefers a hard.
fast racing surface. He equalled
the Hialeah record of 1872 for
u furlongs in winning the Ba-
hamas Handicap. and hung UP
a new Jamaica record of l:484s
for the mile and one-eighth in
winning the Wood Memorial.
Bold Ruler, packing 124 pounds.
q less than all Of today's field
must carry. won the mile and
Ione-sixteenth Preakness Prep
last Monday in the good time Of
Il:433s, although obviously not
showing all of his speed. In fact,
Jockey Eddie Arcaro thought he
ran a bad race.
That same day Iron Liege was
clicked in 1878 in a mile
workout, causing some excite.
ment in the paddock area. Bold
Ruler, however. passed the mile
mark in / :37 fiat in the Prep.
Federal Hill Top Outsider
Iron Liege. who scored his first
stakes victory for Calumet in the
Derby-the 18th of the year for
that fabulous establishment
had a fast track at Churchill
Downs. He was second to sta
blemate Gen. Duke on a sloppy
track in the Fountain Of Youth
Stakes at Gulfstream Park. but
Gen. Duke is rated the top horse
in the Calumet barn-or he was
until a bruised foot put him on
the sideline just before the
Derby.
In any event. the fans hoped
for a dry track and truly run
race. OF the lesser lights only
Federal Hill, who can carry his
blazing speed over q mile. is the
only one conceded any chance of
scoring an upset. The Lussky
color bearer set the Derby pace.
but faded to fifth in the stretch
Of that mile and one-quarter
classic. The Preakness is only
one-Sixteenth shorter at a mile
and three-sixteenths. Federal
Hill whipped Gen. Duke by 2l2
Lengths at one mile in the Derby
Trial and equaled the track rec
ord in the Louisiana Derby at
Fair Grounds by stepping the
mile and one-eighth in l:492s.
Others entered and expected
to be scrapping for fourth money
are Mrs. Ethel D. Jacobs Prom
Used Land. Roselyn Farms In
swept, winner Of the Chesapeake
Trial. Mrs. Jules Schwartz Nan
See PREAKNESS. Page Ais