Evening star., 1960-06-12
CeItic Ash OverwheIms Rivals in Belmont:
Senators Top Tigers in C|f-Hanger> 81
5H Lengths
Is Margin
OF Victory
BY CHARLES NJ. EGAN
Sports Editor OF The Star


Sports Editor OF The Star
NEW YORK, June 11.-With
a big assist from Celtic Ash,
an English-bred, owned
and-trained colt, Jockey Bill
Hartack got his revenge on his
PreaknesS detractors today by
winning the $150,900 Belmont
Stakes in the easiest sort of
fashion-by 512 overwhelming
lengths.
The victorious colt, an 81
shot, did it in a way that
seemed to say Bally Ache might
not have Jared well today
either. even if he hadn't been
sidelined by an ankle injury.
Celtic Ash, who first gave
indications of quality last April
in Maryland. came from far
back to nail Venetian Way, the
Kentucky Derby winner, at the
top Of the long Belmont Park
stretch. At the finish, Venetian
Way was a tired horse. 51a
lengths behind Celtic Ash, but
three-quarters of a length in
front of the fast-closing Dis
perse, who got third money for
King Ranch.
Tompion, the AS favorite
in the field of seven 3-year-
olds, wound up a'badly- beaten
fourth again, just as he had
in the shorter Derby when he
threw a shoe while chasing
Bally Ache in the slippery
going. Today's Belmont was
run over a fast track, but
Tompion found the mile and
one-half too much for him.
Big Victory for Handlers
1t was a glorious triumph
for everyone connected with
Celtic Ash-Owner Joseph E.
O'Connell, Boston banker;
Trainer Thomas j. Barry, the
Irish-born conditioner who de-
veloped the horse, and Jockey
Hartack, who seems to thrive
on feuding.
Owner O'Connell, unfortun-
ately, was unable to be at the
track for his horses great VIC
tory. He had to watch the race
on television at st. Elizabeth's
Hospital, where he is under
treatment for a back injury.
Hartack won the Derby on
Venetian Way, the colt that
Eddie Arcaro finished second
with today. But in the Freak
ness, Venetian Ways trainer,
Vic Sovinsky, was highly criti-
cal of Hartack's riding and
said Bill never would ride for
him again.
Hartack then got the mount
on Celtic Ash, who had run
third in the Preakness under
Sam Boulmetis. He finished
third behind Bally Ache and
Tompion in the Jersey Derby,
and that race seemed to be
just what the English-bred
needed for the Belmont grind.
Before his Belmont victory,
Celtic Ash had earned only
$50, ,280 in eight races, and
most Of that came from the
third-place finishes in the
Preakness and Jersey. He had
won only two races, both at
Laurel in April, yet many
Maryland race-goers knew that
Trainer Barry had another
good one - perhaps another
Cavan."
Barry Trained Cavan
It was Barry who two years
ago primed the Irish-bred Cav
an, also owner by O'Connell's
Green Dunes Farm, for his Bel
mont Stakes victory over Calu-
NETS unfortunate Tim Tam,
winner of the Derby and Freak
ness. Tim Tam fractured a ses-
amoid bone in the stretch and
never raced again. A few weeks
later at Delaware Park, Cavan
also was injured and was
through for good.
Celtic Ash didn't break any
track records on this cool, sum
ny afternoon at Belmont Park,
but he did run the mile and
one-half in 2:293s. That's three
full seconds slower than CAL
liant Mans American record,
but Celtic Ash was about 10
lengths back in the early run
ming. Hartack said later that
was the way Trainer Barry
told him to rate the horse.
Celtic Ash had his share Of
supporters among the crowd of
43. 1888 that passed up a day at
the beaches. He paid $3.50,
Sc. 40 and $3.50 after closing at
81 on the infield board. Ven
etian Way, the third choice at
ST. behind Tompion and Tooth
and Nail, returned $7.2O and
$3.50, while Disperse, an out