Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-23
Weight Costs
Iron Lieee in
Fast Run Race
BY FRANCIS STANN
star star Writer

MAANn4s EC0s 60 - DlO Oh~
meade Stables Oligarchy -
Webster defines the word as
those who form the ruling
few"-won a great duel from
the favored Iron Liege of Calu-
met today in the 21St Widener,
a $4,000 race that left the
Hialeah Park crowd of 3l.507
buzzing for long minutes.
Cleverly ridden by Sammy
Boulmetis. the lightly weighted
Oligarchy came from behind to
win by a head over the 1857
Kentucky Derby victor who.
coupled with Pintor Lea as the
Calumet Farm entry. went of
as the Altos favorite. Bill Har-
tack rode Iron Liege.
The victory in this first Of
Florida's big money races this
winter was worth $4,000 to
Mrs. Isabel Dodge Sloan's
Brookmeade Stable, with APP
propriate awards to Jockey
BoulmetiS and Trainer Preston
Burch. 1t was by far the biggest
purse ever won by Oligarchy, a
4-year-old chestnut colt by
Alibhai out Of Elite.
Never Worse Than Fourth
In 1956-57 and in three pre-
vious starts this year, Oilgarchy
had won only four of II races
and a total of $3l,3I0. There
was nothing flukey with his
triumph this mild afternoon,
however, for in the l0-horse
field Oligarchy was never worse
than fourth as oh Johnny made
a surprising bid to outrun Iron
Liege from the start and stayed
with the Calumet star for
nearly a mile of the mile-and-
a-quarter test.
Five lengths back Of Oligar-
chy and Iron Liege came Mrs.
Ada L. Rice's Hoop Band in
third place. and then Pintor
Lea, oh Johnny, Third Brother.
Kingmaker. Beau Diable. Rock
Castle and Mahan in that or
der. Mahan was ridden by Ed
die Arcaro. who few in from
California and finished far up
the track-l0th and last.
Iron Liege was top-weighted
at l25 pounds. as against only
l08 pounds on Oligarchy. and
this undoubtedly was a big
factor in the outcome. To save
every possible ounce, Boulmetis
had starved himself since Fri
day night. He had one cup Of
black coffee in order to come
in at 108 pounds.
Mr.. Burch told me to use
my own judgment" said the
little Greek rider. native Of
Baltimore. THE horse broke
very well on the rail going down
the backside. I had to move
sooner than I wanted because
Oh Johnny was through and I
didn't want to give Iron Leige
a breather.
Il hit him (Oligarchy) a
couple of times at the head OF
the stretch. but with the diff
ference in weights / knew we
were going TO win it. III say
this for Iron Liege-he held on
all the way. This is the first
time in years that I have made
as low as ITO pounds"
No Breather for FavOrite
When the field broke neatly
from the starting gate. Oh
Johnny, ridden by Bobby Us
Sery. broke alertly from the ex-
IRENE outside. went out with
Iron Liege and fought him
down the stretch. around the
first turn and most of the way
up the backstretch. Then it
became obvious that Mrs. WAL
lace Gilroy's 5-year-old could
mt stay with the Calumet ace.
But. as Boulmetis pointed out.
Iron Liege was given no
breather. Just as soon as Oh
Johnny started to bow out.
Sammy shook UP Oligarchy and
the pair went roaring down TO
the wire.
The time was excellent
-2:0l2s. which is only two
fifths OF a second of the track
record set by FL Mono in 1913.
Oligarchy. a 9-to-i shot. paid
5000. 500 and $3.50. Iron
Liege, backed down TO 80 cents
TO the dollar. returned 500
and $3.50. The show price on
Hoop Band was $3.50. The lat.
ter went of at nearly "a 10 /.
The race was worth S02. 800
TO Mrs. Sloane Of New York and
Upperville. Va. Calumet picked
up $4,000 for Iron Liege's Sec
ond-place finish and $1,000 for
the fourth by Pintor Lea. Third