Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-11
LAUREL COURSE SOAKED
KeIso's 7 rainier Asks
Owner to Scratch Ace
By JOSEPH B. KELLY
Star Racing Editor

"AOAA Vi WlO41OuV IAC1OOII, JIl6
still-hedging American ace who
wants no part of soft footing,
a crowd in excess of 10000 is
expected at Laurel tomorrow for
the $125 900 Washington, D. c.,
International which again has
generated interest throughout
the racing world.
One the eve of the 18th run
ming of the exclusive invita-
tional mile-and-a-half grass
event, a hand-picked field of
Is finely-tuned thoroughbreds
representing nine countries
await the call to the post at
3:55 pm.
Ten minutes later Started Ed
die Blind will line up the horses
at the Newmarket tape barrier
on the backstretch for the eli
max of Laurels Veterans Day
show which begins at 1920
pm, post time for the nine
race program.
The Weather Bureau fore
casts sun and strong breezes
today and tomorrow. These were
wonderful words both for the
management, which has been
planning the race for nearly a
year, and for hopes of another
United States victory.
Strongest U. S. Bid
Uncle Sam appears to hold
the strongest hand ever mus
tered for America in the history
of the International, with Bo-
hemia Stables Kelso; Mrs.
Katherine Prices Garry Back
and Jack Dreyfus, jr.'s Beau
Purple, who are battling for
horSe-of-the-year honors.
Even minus Kelso-and he is
now being counted a very
doubtful starter because Of the
Soggy condition of the turf
the United States is heavily IA
vored to turn back the 10 for
eign invaders which include an
entry from RusSia-Zabeg, and
Livan-Italy's Delvin, Frances
Match II and Kistinie, Canada s
Lebon M. L., Germany's Oppo-
nent, England's Parade, Peru's
Perfido and Japan's Tagama-
gahara.
Trainer Carl Hanford, who
has been pessimistic about the
possibility of dry course all
week, officially entered Kelso
yesterday but declared at the
same time that he was recon-
mending to Mrs. Richard du-
Pont, owner Of KelSo, that the
5-year-old gelding not start.
Mrs. DUPONT then announced
that no decision on Kelso would
be made until tomorrow follow
ing a conference with Laurel
officials.
More Rain Falls
More showers fell at Laurel
yesterday after entries were
taken for the international,
pouring more water on the turf
course which absorbed a 2h-
inch deluge Friday night.
Everywhere you run on the
course, water squirts up" Han
ford said yesterday after he
took Kelso on the track and
broke him from the Newmarket
tape. IF he were my horse, I
wouldn't run. I will recon-
mend to- Mrs. dupont that we
scratch him"
Loquacious Jack Price, who
trains the indefatigible Carry
Back, indicated that his horse
will start but left the door open
for a late withdrawal if the
track should be deep and heavy.
THE track would have to be
awfully bad for Carry Back not
to rum" Price said. IT will wait
until Monday afternoon, If !
decide not to run him"
Like any other American
stakes races, the rules permit a
withdrawal until As minutes
before post time.
Even if the United States
loses two-thirds of it's forces,
it will still have a powerhouse
in Beau Purple, winner of the
recent Man O'War Stakes over
a soft turf in which he whipped
both Kelso and Carry Back.
KelSo is the overnight fav-
orite, due to open at 81 when
betting starts tomorrow, but
most observers believe the holi-
day crowd will send Beau
Purple off the choice at about
81 over Kelso, the horse of
the year last year and in 1860.
Carry Back, with John Rotz
in the saddle, lost a nose de-
cision to Mongo in the Trenton
Handicap November 3, was fifth
in the Man O'War and before
that 10th in the Arc de Tri-
omphe in Paris. His last vic
tory was in an overnight handi-
cap in New York but despite his
spotty record he'll be held at
about 81.
Unlike the American horses,
the foreign gross runners APP
parently are unconcerned about
the prospect of soggy going.
japanese Trainer Kize Ken
ishe, through an interpreter,
told reporters yesterday that his
horse, Takamagahara, will fay