# Nobiliary wins International

By WILLIAM BONIFACE

Sunpapers Racing Editor

Laurel—Breaking first at the delayed start and holding command throughout the mile and a half, Nelson Bunker Hunt's Kentucky-bred Nobiliary overcame a claim of foul to become the winner of the 24th running of the $150,000 Washington International in the slow time of 2 minutes 31 1/5 seconds.

Representing France, where she raced, although bred in the United States by her Texas owner, Nobiliary had drifted slightly wide under Sandy Hawley before winning by three parts of a length from George L. Ohrstrom's Comtesse de Loir.

French jockey Jean-Claude Desaint, rider of Comtesse de Loir, lodged an objection with course stewards for being "brushed" by the winner, but the officials did not take action.

When Xavier Beau's On My Way finished third, 3 lengths behind Comtesse de Loir, it was a clean sweep of the money positions for French thoroughbreds.

Coupled with Dahlia, winner of the International two years ago, Nobiliary paid $7 for $2. The entry was second choice to Windfields' Snow Knight, which went off at 2-to-1.

The Hunt horses were separate betting interests in New York off-track betting, and Nobiliary paid $23.80.

The start of the International was held up for 12 minutes while blacksmith Frank Maguire was summoned from the paddock to re-hoe Comtesse de Loir, which had tossed her right forehoe on the way to the post.

The new shoe did not detain Comtesse de Loir, however, for she came from last in the nine-horse group to be overtaking Nobiliary with each stride in the final sixteenth of a mile.

Sunpapers photo—William C. Mortimer

Nobiliary (right) thunders past the finish three-fourths length ahead of Comtesse de Loir in the Washington International at Laurel Race Course.

## The International

7 -1-1/2 miles (furl); purse $150,000; 3-year-olds & up; 'The Washington D.C. International'; 24th running (by invitation only).

Value to winner $100,000; second $25,000; third $10,000; fourth $5,000; fifth $5,000; sixth $5,000. Handle $293,478.

<table><thead><tr><th>Horse</th><th>Jockey</th><th>Odds</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Nobiliary</td><td>Hawley</td><td>117 4 1-1/2 1/2</td><td>2.50</td></tr><tr><td>Comtesse de Loir</td><td>Claude</td><td>124 1 9 5h</td><td>5.40</td></tr><tr><td>On My Way II</td><td>Gilbert</td><td>127 8 8-2 4h</td><td>14.50</td></tr><tr><td>Shady Character</td><td>Cordero</td><td>127 9 2-7 2-2</td><td>4-4/4</td></tr><tr><td>Stallion</td><td>Starkey</td><td>127 6 7h 9 5-3</td><td>5.10</td></tr><tr><td>Low Knight</td><td>Velasquez</td><td>127 5 5/2 8 1/2 6-4</td><td>2.10</td></tr><tr><td>Laomedonte</td><td>Deltori</td><td>120 2 6 1/2 7-1/2 7-6</td><td>7-10</td></tr><tr><td>Dahlia</td><td>Salini-Martín</td><td>124 7 3-1 6-1/2 8-4</td><td>8-3 1/2</td></tr><tr><td>Tsukisamu Homare</td><td>Yama</td><td>127 3 4h 3h</td><td>2.50</td></tr></tbody></table>

a-coupled Nobiliary & Dahlia: $5.53. Start good, won driving. Time 26 2/5; 49 4/5; 1.41; 2.06 2/5; 2.31 1/5.

In a post-race incident, Nobiliary broke away from her groom while being returned to the stable and galloped back down the home-stretch in front of the stands for about an eighth of a mile before stopping and standing to be captured by an onlooker.

Snow Knight, representing the United States under the silks of Edward P. Taylor, apparently did not fancy the soft footing and dropped back to finish sixth after making a mild bid on the far turn. It was the final start for the Grass Horse of the Year, which has been retired to stud at Chesapeake City, Md.

Nobiliary, a large chestnut daughter of Vaguely Noble, the same as Dahlia, looked to be a picture of health in the paddock and ran to

lengths in front at the top of the stretch and obviously got a little tired toward the end, when she drifted to intimidate Comtesse de Loir, although there was no actual contact.

Hawley did not go to a drive until the very last furlong, when he used hands, heels and whip to bring his mount to the fairly comfortable victory.

Nobiliary, only a 3 year old, which had finished sixth in the Arc de Triomphe in Paris October 5, reeled off the fractional times as follows: .26 2/5, .49 4/5, 1.15 2/5 and 1.41 for the mile. The mile-and-a-half time of 2.31 1/5 was one of the slowest runs of the classic.

Hawley had a short report of his ride, saying: "Mr. Zilber [Maurice Zilber, Nobiliary's

they would rather have seen Dahlia, the stable favorite, in the winner's circle.

They had been told by Yves Saint-Martin, Dahlia's jockey, that his mount was bothered by Laomedonte, the Italian horse, going into the far turn the second time and never really recovered from the bumping. The 5-year-old mare finished eighth, in front of only Tsukisamu Homare, the Japanese trailer.

Nobiliary will be left in this country for racing in Florida, where she will be in the charge of trainer Woody Stephens. Dahlia will be returned to France, and a decision will then be made as to whether she will race at age 6 next season.

NOBILITY 7.00 4.00 3.20 COMTESSE DE LOIR

SEVENTH RACE
Laurel

NOVEMBER 8, 1975

1 ½ MILES. (turf). (2.23%) 24th Running THE WASHINGTON D C INTERNATIONAL INVITATIONAL. Purse $150,000. 3-year-olds and upward. $150,000 of which $100,000 to first, $25,000 to second, $10,000 to third $5,000 to fourth, $5,000 to fifth and $5,000 to sixth. Weight, 3-year-olds, 120 lbs. Older, 127 lbs. Fillies and mares, 3 lbs. allowance. Starters to be named through the entry box Thursday, November 6 by the usual time of closing.

The Laurel Race Course, Inc., will present trophies to the winning owner, trainer and jockey.

Value of race $150,000, value to winner $100,000, second $25,000, third $10,000, fourth $5,000, fifth $5,000, sixth $5,000.

Mutuel pool $293,478. Exacta Pool $140,978.

<table><thead><tr><th>Last Raced</th><th>Horse</th><th>Eqt.</th><th>A.</th><th>Wt</th><th>PP</th><th>1/4</th><th>1/2</th><th>1</th><th>1 1/4</th><th>Str</th><th>Fin</th><th>Jockey</th><th>Odds $1</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>50ct75 4Lon6</td><td>Nobiliary</td><td>3</td><td>117</td><td>4</td><td>1hd</td><td>11 1/2</td><td>1 1/2</td><td>11 1/2</td><td>12</td><td>1 1/2</td><td>Hawley S</td><td>a-2.50</td></tr><tr><td>260ct75 7WO2</td><td>Comtesse de Loir</td><td>4</td><td>124</td><td>1</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>5hd</td><td>31</td><td>21 1/2</td><td>23</td><td>Desaint J C</td><td>5.40</td></tr><tr><td>50ct75 4Lon2</td><td>On My Way II</td><td>5</td><td>127</td><td>8</td><td>8 1/2</td><td>82</td><td>4hd</td><td>4hd</td><td>42 1/2</td><td>32</td><td>Gilbert A</td><td>14.50</td></tr><tr><td>3Nov75 8Bel1</td><td>Shady Character</td><td>4</td><td>127</td><td>9</td><td>25</td><td>27</td><td>22</td><td>2hd</td><td>32</td><td>44 1/2</td><td>Cordero A Jr</td><td>19.90</td></tr><tr><td>180ct75 2New4</td><td>Star Appeal</td><td>b</td><td>5</td><td>127</td><td>6</td><td>7hd</td><td>7hd</td><td>9</td><td>63</td><td>53</td><td>52 1/2</td><td>Starkey G</td><td>5.10</td></tr><tr><td>260ct75 7WO1</td><td>Snow Knight</td><td>4</td><td>127</td><td>5</td><td>32</td><td>5 1/2</td><td>8 1/2</td><td>54</td><td>64</td><td>65</td><td>Velasquez J</td><td>2.10</td></tr><tr><td>190ct75 5Mil1</td><td>Laomedonte</td><td>3</td><td>120</td><td>2</td><td>4hd</td><td>6 1/2</td><td>7 1/2</td><td>75</td><td>76</td><td>710</td><td>Dettori G</td><td>8.50</td></tr><tr><td>260ct75 7WO4</td><td>Dahlia</td><td>5</td><td>124</td><td>7</td><td>61</td><td>3 1/2</td><td>6 1/2</td><td>82</td><td>84</td><td>83 1/2</td><td>Saint-Martin Y</td><td>a-2.50</td></tr><tr><td>24Aug75 6Hak1</td><td>Tsukisamu Homare</td><td>6</td><td>127</td><td>3</td><td>52</td><td>4hd</td><td>3hd</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>9</td><td>Yokoyama T</td><td>21.50</td></tr></tbody></table>

a-Coupled: Nobiliary and Dahlia.

OFF AT 3:53 EST Start ood, Won driving. Time, :26 2/5, :49 1/5, 1:15 2/5, 1:41, 2:06 3/5, 2:31 1/5, Course yielding.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

<table><tr><td>1-NOBILIARY (a-entry)</td><td>7.00</td><td>4.20</td><td>3.20</td></tr><tr><td>2-COMTESSE DE LOIR</td><td>5.20</td><td>4.20</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7-ON MY WAY II</td><td>7.40</td><td></td><td></td></tr></table>

$2 EXACTA 1-2 PAID $35.60.

Ch. f, by Vaguely Noble—Goofed, by Court Martial. Trainer Zilber M. Bred by Hunt N B (Ky).

NOBILIARY broke alertly to take command and draw clear along the rail under a rating hold passing the stands the first time. Hawley "let out a notch" when SHADY CHARACTER moved closer after a mile and she regained a clear lead, and she responded willingly when set down in early stretch and held COMTESSE DE LOIR safe while drifting out gradually approaching the wire. COMTESSE DE LOIR, allowed to settle early, moved between rivals with a rush leaving the backstretch the second time, returned to the rail on the final turn, came out between horses for the drive and finished with good courage. An objection lodged against the winner by the rider of COMTESSE DE LOIR for alleged interference in the stretch was disallowed. ON MY WAY II, rated early, rallied between horses into the stretch and continued willingly while no threat to the top pair. SHADY CHARACTER vied for the lead into the stretch the first time, eased back slightly in the first run past the stands and bobbled twice entering the backstretch. He made a bid at the winner leaving the backstretch, then gradually weakened. STAR APPEAL, reserved early, was steadied briefly between horses entering the second turn, again along the rail leaving the backstretch, and posed no threat when clear. SNOW KNIGHT, rated early, bobbled badly entering the backstretch, rallied outside horses into the stretch and weakened. LAOMEDONTE made a mild bid between horses leaving the backstretch and weakened. DAHLIA advanced along the rail to good striking position at the mile, then faltered. TSUKISAMU HOMARE was through after a mile. The start was delayed 10 minutes as the right front shoe was replaced on COMTESSE DE LOIR.

Owners— 1, Hunt N B; 2, Ohrstrom G L; 3, Beau X; 4, Phipps Ogden Mills; 5, Zeitelhack W; 6, Windfields Farm; 7, D'Alessio C; 8, Hunt N B; 9, Sueoka H.

Trainers— 1, Zilber M; 2, Jensen K; 3, Pelat N; 4, Russell J W; 5, Grieper T; 6, Miller Mack; 7, Cumani S; 8, Zilber M; 9, Motoishi M.

1975 WASHINGTON, D.C. INTERNATIONAL

24TH RUNNING

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1975

(Horses listed throughout in alphabetical order)

<table><thead><tr><th>Horse</th><th>Weight</th><th>Jockey</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>COMTESSE DE LOIR, f, 4 (France)<br>Owner: George L. Ohrstrom<br>Trainer: John Cunningham<br>Acting Trainer: Kay Jensen</td><td>124</td><td>Jean-Claude Desaint</td></tr><tr><td>X-DAHLIA, m, 5 (France)<br>Owner: Nelson Bunker Hunt<br>Trainer: Maurice Zilber</td><td>124</td><td>Yves Saint-Martin</td></tr><tr><td>LAOMEDONTE, c, 3 (Italy)<br>Owner: Dr. Carlo d'Alessio<br>Trainer: Sergio Cumani</td><td>120</td><td>Gianfranco Dettori</td></tr><tr><td>X-NOBILIARY, f, 3 (France)<br>Owner: Nelson Bunker Hunt<br>Trainer: Maurice Zilber</td><td>117</td><td>Sandy Hawley</td></tr><tr><td>ON MY WAY, h, 5 (France)<br>Owner: Xavier Beau<br>Trainer: Noel Pelat</td><td>127</td><td>Alfred Gibert</td></tr><tr><td>SHADY CHARACTER, c, 4 (United States)<br>Owner: Ogden Mills Phipps<br>Trainer: John Russell</td><td>127</td><td>Angel Cordero Jr.</td></tr><tr><td>SNOW KNIGHT, c, 4 (United States)<br>Owner: E.P. Taylor (Windfields Farm)<br>Trainer: MacKenzie Miller</td><td>127</td><td>Jorge Velasquez</td></tr><tr><td>STAR APPEAL, h, 5 (Germany)<br>Owner: Waldemar Zeitelhack<br>Trainer: Theo Grieper</td><td>127</td><td>Greville Starkey</td></tr><tr><td>TSUKISAMU HOMARE, h, 6 (Japan)<br>Owner: Hiroshi Sueoka<br>Trainer: Masao Motoishi</td><td>127</td><td>Tomio Yokoyama</td></tr></tbody></table>

X-Entry

VALUE OF RACE: $150,000. First place, $100,000; second, $25,000; third, $10,000; fourth, fifth and sixth, $5,000 each.

DISTANCE: 1 1/2 miles on turf course.

TRACK AND STAKES RECORD: 2:23 4/5, Kelso, 1964.

COMTESSE DE LOIR
(France)

Four-year-old bay filly by Val de Loir--
Nerlad, by Princequillo

Comtesse de Loir was purchased by her owner, George L. Ohrstrom, as a yearling in France. After making one start as a 2-year-old, the filly has gone to the post six times in each of the last two years and has finished as low as fourth only twice. Her career earnings total $458,096.

Comtesse de Loir lost by a head to the great Allez France in the 1974 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and was third in this year's Arc behind upset winner Star Appeal. She went off at 53-to-1 odds in last year's Arc and was 21-to-1 on her second try in the French classic.

Comtesse de Loir won the Prix des Erables at Chantilly this year and the Prix St. Alary at Longchamp in 1974. She was invited to the International following a second-place finish to Snow Knight in the Canadian Championship at Woodbine on Oct. 26.

Following the current Campaign, Ohrstrom plans to retire Comtesse de Loir for breeding. She is by the leading French sire, Val de Loir.

OWNER--GEORGE L. OHRSTROM

George L. Ohrstrom, a 48-year-old industrialist and publisher, was born in Bronxville, N.Y., and now has residences in New York and Virginia. Following service in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, he was graduated from Princeton University. He served with the State Department in France for a number of years, then joined the family firm, G.L. Ohrstrom and Co.

Ohrstrom is the senior partner of the New York-based partnership, which includes among its wide-ranging interests, Victory Racing Plate Co., manufacturers of aluminum shoes. Ohrstrom is publisher of the Chronicle of the Horse, and principal stockholder in the Fauquier Publishing Co., which publishes the Piedmont Virginian and the Rappahannock News.

COMTESSE DE LOIR

(COMTESSE DE LOIR-continued)

OWNER--GEORGE L. OHRSTROM

Ohrstrom's Whitewood Farm in Middleburg, Va., includes an extensive beef cattle operation in addition to being the site of Thoroughbred breeding and training activities. The Ohrstrom family started coming to Virginia in 1948. Ohrstrom's father, George Sr., an avid horseman, served as president of the Orange County Hunt--a post now held by young George.

It was through his father that Ohrstrom became connected with French racing. The elder Ohrstrom imported and raced French horses, especially steeplechasers. The noted French trainer, John Cunnington, has served both father and son, as well as George's brother, Richard.

For a number of years, Ohrstrom has been shipping yearlings to France for training and racing under Cunnington and his son, John Jr. For several years, the yearlings shipped to the Cunnicntons at Chantilly have been the progeny of Turn to Mars, a top stud at Whitewood. Ohrstrom also has horses in training in the United States.

TRAINER--JOHN CUNNINGTON SR.

John Cunnicnton Sr., one of France's senior trainers, sent Norman to Laurel to finish fourth in the third running of the International in 1954. His son, John Jr., trained the 1974 International winner, Admetus, and also saddled Vasco de Gama, the fourth-place finisher in 1966.

There are presently three members of the Cunnicnton family training at Chantilly, and the name has been well known in French racing for more than a century. The first Cunnicnton to train in France emigrated from England.

The elder Cunnicnton has a much smaller stable than in previous years. He has long been popular with American owners.

In the International, veteran American trainer Kay Jensen will saddle Comtesse de Loir for Cunnicnton.

COMTESSE DE LOIR

(COMTESSE DE LOIR-continued)

JOCKEY--JEAN-CLAUDE DESAINT

Jean-Claude Desaint, 33, was born in Chantilly, the
center of French horse racing. He and a brother both
worked for John Cunningham, with Jean-Claude becoming
an apprentice under the veteran trainer at age 14.
He rode his first winner five years later on Halifax
in a handicap at Deauville, and finished his appren-
ticeship in 1961 after he had ridden 40 winners.

Fighting a perpetual battle with his weight, Desaint
soon made his debut in jumping races and scored some
notable successes. In 1967, he was engaged as Mme.
Susy Volterra's first-call jockey, and the contract
forbade him to ride over obstacles. At that time
Mme. Volterra had few good horses, Desaint had few
winners, and the contract was terminated.

Desaint returned to the jumping races, but gave it up
because of his success on the flat. By the end of
1970, he was riding not only for Cunningham but also
for the strong stable of Freddie Palmer. He finished
fifth in the jockey standings with 55 winners in 1971,
and tied for third in 1972 with 82 winners. His list
of successes include two straight winners in the Poule
d'Essai des Poulains, with Zug in 1971 and Riverman
the following year.

In his only previous International appearance, Desaint
was second aboard Carvin II, beaten a nose by Diatome
in an all-French photo finish

COMTESSE DE LOIR

(COMTESSE DE LOIR-continued)

ACTING TRAINER--KAY E. JENSEN

Kay E. Jensen, who will saddle Comtesse de Loir in the absence of John Cunningham, first appeared in the International last year when his Golden Don finished fourth. He is a native of Denmark, who began riding in the show rings as a 9-year-old and launched a 14-year career as a jockey when he was 14.

Jensen, 56, was Denmark's leading rider in two of three years and then led the jockey's list for five consecutive years in Sweden before coming to the United States in 1948. After one year of riding in the U.S., he retired from the saddle and took out a trainer's license in 1949.

Prior to taking over Golden Don in June, 1974, Jensen said his best previous grass horse was High Hat. He also lists Warhead, Terlago and Quiet Step among his other top performers.

COMTESSE DE LOIR

DAHLIA
(France)

Five-year-old chestnut mare by Vaguely Noble--
Charming Alibi, by Honey's Alibi

Dahlia, the 1973 winner of the International, returns for a third consecutive appearance in the Laurel classic. Only the great gelding Kelso, the leading all-time money winner which won the International on the last of his four straight appearances in 1964, has gone to the post more often. Fort Marcy, winner of the International in 1967 and 1970, and Russia's Zabeg also raced three times.

Kentucky-bred Dahlia in 1975 has not raced up to her form of the past two seasons, but the mare remains a formidable foe for the top competitors on two continents. Coming into the International, her lifetime earnings of $1,364,389 rank a close second to the $1,386,146 of Allez France, most ever by a filly or mare.

Dahlia's lone victory in 10 starts this year was in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York, but she has placed in three other starts while earning $147,664. In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, Dahlia finished third by 5¼ lengths to Grundy while spotting 11 pounds to Europe's top 3-year-old colt. In her most recent start, Dahlia made a late bid on the outside and finished fourth by two lengths to Snow Knight in the Canadian Championship. She has won 13 of 34 lifetime starts and placed in nine others.

Last year, Dahlia made a valiant bid to score a "triple" which trainer Maurice Zilber had mapped out for a North American trip. She won the Man o'War at Belmont, took the Canadian Championship at Woodbine, and then finished third 1¼ lengths to Admetus while attempting to defend her International title. Earlier in the year, she won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth for the second time, and also captured the Grand Prix de St. Cloud and the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup on the way to being named Best Grass Horse of 1974.

In 1973, Dahlia was the "First Lady" of racing when she became the first filly to win two of the sport's most prestigious events--the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the International. She continued to lead the way at the start of 1974, and became the first of her sex to top $1 million in earnings.

DAHLIA

(DAHLIA-continued)

Dahlia, a homebred of Nelson Bunker Hunt, was from the first crop of Vaguely Noble. Her sire won the 1968 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1968, when he was the top 3-year-old in France, and took six of nine career starts. Dahlia's dam, Charming Alibi, won 16 of 71 races from 1965 to 1968, campaigning mostly in Michigan. Her most noteworthy victory was in the 1967 Milette Handicap at Detroit Race Course.

With victories by Dahlia and Ademetus the past two years, France has now accounted for seven of the 12 triumphs by foreign entries in 23 running of the International. The French have been represented in more Internationals than any foreign nation, missing only three races. Five of its competitors have finished second, and two more have come in third.

OWNER--NELSON BUNKER HUNT

Nelson Bunker Hunt, making his third trip to the International with his great mare Dahlia, is a Texan who deals in oil, natural gas, precious metals and Thoroughbred horses. His racing empire is about as widespread as his other business interests, with hundreds of horses based in the United States, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.

Jim Shannon, an Australian, has managed Hunt's far-flung racing interests since March, 1973. Handling Hunt's horses are such outstanding trainers as Maurice Zilber, Charlie Whittingham, Woody Stephens, Steve DiMauro, Lefty Nickerson, Len and Dominic Imperio, Bob Wheeler and Murray Friedlander.

Hunt's involvement in European racing dates from his purchase of a half-share in Dahlia's sire, Vaguely Noble. The private transaction was made a few days after Hunt had been the underbidder when the horse was sold at auction in December, 1967, for about $340,000.

The breeding interests of Hunt also are on an international scale. He owns more than 100 broodmares in Kentucky, Texas and New Zealand. In addition to his interest in Vaguely Noble, he has shares in such stallions as Hail To Reason and Riva Ridge.

DAHLIA

(DAHLIA-continued)

## TRAINER--MAURICE ZILBER

Maurice Zilber, the living epitome of the International, is back at Laurel for the fifth time. Zilber, 53, was born in Cairo, Egypt. His father was a Hungarian of French nationality and his mother was Turkish.

For the third consecutive year, Zilber will be saddling Dahlia in the International for owner Nelson Bunker Hunt. The great French mare won the classic as a 3-year-old in 1973, and finished third a year ago. Previously, Zilber saddled two starters for M. Daniel Wildenstein, with Petrone finishing sixth in 1968 and Quiladi ninth in 1971.

Zilber was the private trainer eight years for Wildenstein, an international art dealer who currently owns another outstanding French mare, Allez France. He trained for both Wildenstein and Hunt in 1972, but the association with Wildenstein ended in April, 1973. Soon afterwards, Zilber took over some 50 horses owned by M. Marcel Boussac.

Zilber had considerable success in Egypt, winning all the big races and topping the trainers for 10 years. But, as Zilber recalls, things became difficult for Europeans in Egypt and by 1962 he left after losing everything. He arrived in Paris, where two brothers lived, with $12 in his pockets. He had intended to go onto the United States, and set up as a trainer, but he had such success in France he decided to stay.

As a youth, Zilber wanted to be a veterinarian but his father, general agent for the Lipton Tea Co. in the Middle East, objected. Maurice, a good horseman, soon found a way to join animals at the race tracks, following graduation from the University of Cairo with a degree in economics. Six months after starting as a stable boy, Zilber became an assistant trainer and at age 22 he was a trainer. For a time, he worked with Welshman Jack Jenkens.

DAHLIA

(DAHLIA-continued)

JOCKEY--YVES SAINT-MARTIN

Yves Saint-Martin, the veteran jockey who is regularly
at the top of the French standings, is back at Laurel
for his fifth appearance in the International. He is
still remembered for a brilliant ride aboard Match II
in 1962 when he came through an opening on the inside
to defeat Kelso and Carry Back. Saint-Martin also
finished fifth with Silver Shark in 1966, sixth aboard
Casaque Grise in 1967, and ninth with Quiludi in 1971.

Since his most recent Laurel ride, Saint-Martin fin-
ished second in the French standings with 90 winners
in 1972, and then won the title the next two years
with 117 and 121 winners, respectively. In July,
1970, Saint-Martin ended his association with Francois
Mathet, who trained Match II, and signed on as the
No. 1 jockey for M. Daniel Wildenstein, the owner of
Quilidi.

Two years later, Saint-Martin began an association
with Allez France, and remained the regular rider as
the French star moved to the top of the all-time
winning list for fillies and mares. Last year,
Saint-Martin suffered a painful injury to his back
and hip, and was in danger of being replaced by
Lester Piggott in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
But he rode in great pain, wearing a corset, and
rode Allez France to victory. Now, in the Interna-
tional, he could be aboard Dahlia when she surpasses
Allez France's earnings total.

DAHLIA

LAOMEDONTE
(Italy)

Three-year-old chestnut colt by Raise A Native--
Lost Message, by Toulouse Lautrec

Laomedonte, Italy's first representative in the Inter-
national since 1971, has won five of eight starts this
year and placed in two others. In his only finish out
of the money, the colt was impeded a bit and was fifth
by only 2¼ lengths in the Gran Premio de Milan to Star
Appeal. His earnings this year total $146,394.

After winning one of three starts at 2 last season,
Laomedonte won three of his first four this year and
after beating older horses in the Gran Premio d'Italia
at Milan on June 1, he was declared Italy's most im-
proved 3-year-old in training. Since then, he has won
the St. Leger Italiano and the Gran Premio d'Jockey
Club. The International will be his first start out-
side of Italy.

Laomedonte was bred in Kentucky by Mrs. George G. Proskauer and offered at the 1973 Keeneland summer yearling sale. He was purchased for $50,000 on Dr. Carlo d'Alessio's account by Murty Brothers Blood-stock.

Raise A Native, Laomedonte's sire, was unbeaten in four starts at 2 but broke down and never raced again. He set a track record at Aqueduct while winning the 5½-furlong Great American Stakes in 1:02 3'5, and equalled the Aqueduct five-furlong mark of :57 4'5 in taking the Juvenile Stakes. Raise A Native earned $45,955 before retiring to stud. He has produced more than 35 stakes winners, including Majestic Prince, the 1969 winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.

Laomedonte's dam, Lost Message, included the Yo Tambien Handicap among her six career victories and finished third in the Santa Margarita. Curiously, her earnings of $47,840 topped those of Raise A Native. Lost Message was sired by the Italian-bred Toulouse Lautrec, a winner of the Derby Italiano. After topping the list of Italian sires, he served at stud in the United States for some 10 years before being returned to Italy.

Italy has been represented in five previous Interna-
tional races by seven horses. The best showing thus
far was a third-place finish in 1970 by Bacuco.

LAOMEDONTE

(LAOMEDONTE-continued)

OWNER--DR. CARLO D'ALESSIO

Dr. Carlo d'Alessio, a prominent commercial lawyer in
Italy, maintains an international racing stable trained
by Sergio Cumani, one of Italy's leading conditioners.
The d'Alessio runners rank No. 1 in Italy this year in
money winning.

Through the Newmarket Bloodstock Agency, d'Alessio paid $192,000 for four horses at the Keeneland summer sales this year. In 1974, he paid $45,000 for three others. D'Alessio also owns top English stakes winners of 1975. Bolkonski won the 2,000 Guineas, the St. James Palace Stakes and the Sussex Stakes; Wollow took the Dewhurst Stakes; and the American-bred Take Your Place, a $125,000 yearling, recently won the Observer Gold Cup at Doncaster.

TRAINER--SERGIO CUMANI

Sergio Cumani ranks second on the list of Italian trainers this year, with 58 winners through Oct. 16. His successes include the Gran Premio d'Italia and the St. Leger Italiano with Laomedonte this year, and consecutive victories in the Derby Italiano, with Gay Lussac in 1972 and Cerreto in 1973.

Cumani led the Italian trainers in 1971 with 127 winners and then finished second the next two years, with 112 and 115 winners respectively. Next year, Cumani's son Luca is to take out a license to train in England at Newmarket. For the past two years, Luca has been an assistant to trainer Henry Cecil.

JOCKEY--GIANFRANCO DETTORI

Gianfranco Dettori, 34, set an Italian record in 1968 when he rode 185 winners, and then topped that with a total of 186 in 1971. From 1968 through 1971, he was Italy's champion jockey. For his career, which began with two victories in 1961, he has about 1,500 winners. He ranked sixth in the jockey standings through Oct. 16, with a total of 79.

His victories include two straight in the Criterium Nazionale, with Latmos in 1970 and Gay Lussac in 1971, the Derby Italiano aboard Ardale in 1971, and the St. Leger Italiano with Veio in 1973.

LAOMEDONTE

NOBILIARY
(France)

Three-year-old chestnut filly by Vaguely Noble--
Goofed, by Court Martial.

Nobiliary, like Dahlia, is a Nelson Bunker Hunt homebred
from Kentucky and both were sired by Vaguely Noble. She
started four times at 2, winning the Prix de la Sablon-
ville at Longchamp. This year, Nobiliary has won two of
eight starts and in the only two races in which she fin-
ished out of the money, she pressed the pace and led in
both.

Nobiliary won two of her first three starts this year,
the Prix de la Grotte and the Prix St. Alary, one of
France's three top races for 3-year-old fillies. Then,
going off as a 20-to-1 choice in the Epsom Derby, she
finished second to Grundy, Europe's top 3-year-old colt.
She was the first filly in 68 years to finish in the
money in the Derby.

Nobiliary then finished fifth in the Eclipse Stakes at
Sandown, after leading in midstretch, was third in the
Irish Guinness Oaks at the Curragh after being among
the leaders throughout, and then lost another lead in
the stretch to finish second in the Prix Vermeille at
Longchamp. In her last start, Nobiliary was among the
leaders in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, led for a
time, and then faded to sixth.

Vaguely Noble, Nobiliary's sire, won the Arc in 1968
and was named the top 3-year-old in France that year.
He won six of nine starts during two years of racing
in England and France. In addition to Dahlia and
Nobiliary, Vaguely Noble also sired Mississippian, the
top 2-year-old in France in 1974, and Noble Decree,
England's top 2-year-old of 1973. Nobiliary's dam,
Goofed, won four races including the Ladies Handicap
and the New York Handicap, earning $76,928.

OWNER--NELSON BUNKER HUNT

(See biography under Dahlia)

TRAINER--MAURICE ZILBER

(See biography under Dahlia)

NOBILIARY

(NOBILIARY-continued)

JOCKEY--SANDY HAWLEY

Sandy Hawley, a native of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, is one
of eight jockeys who have topped 400 winners in one year,
and going into this year was the only one to have done
it twice. He won 452 races in 1970 and then posted a
world record 515 in 1973 to smash a Willie Shoemaker
standard that had stood for 20 years. Although the
record was in turn topped by Chris McCarron last year,
Hawley finished third with 373 winners and his .291
winning percentage was the best in the nation.

After leading the apprentice riders with 230 winners in
1969, Hawley topped all jockeys in three of the next
four years. He was No. 1 in 1970 with 452 winners,
slipped to second with 349 the following year, and
then reclaimed the top spot for two more years at 367
and 515.

Through Nov. 2 this year, Hawley was second to McCarron
with 302 winners and ranked third behind Shoemaker and
Braulio Baeza with $3,248,225 in earnings. For his-career,
with his seventh year not yet completed, Hawley
had won a whopping 2,588 races through Nov. 2.

This will be Hawley's second ride in the International.
He was aboard Minsky, the fourth-place finisher in the
1971 race.

NOBILIARY

ON MY WAY II
(France)

Five-year-old bay horse by Laugh Aloud--
Gracious Me, by Tulyar

On My Way II was bred by the late E. Howell Jackson at his Bull Run Stud in Virginia. At the time he was purchased by Xavier Beau, at Deauville on Aug. 31, 1973, On My Way II had run four times and won a maiden race. Since then, he has won only two of 16 starts, but has missed finishing among the first four only three times while placing in six major stakes. With three seconds and two thirds in seven starts this year, he has won $192,721.

On My Way II scored his most notable success by beating Dahlia in 1974 to win the Prix du Prince d'Orange, a prep for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. In this year's Arc, he was the runner-up by three lengths to Star Appeal. In the Prix d'Harcourt this year, On My Way II lost by a neck to Card King, the fourth-place finisher in the 1973 International.

Laugh Aloud, the sire of On My Way II, won three races including the Lexington Handicap at 3 and earned $35,797. The son of Tom Fool, the 1953 Horse of the Year, now stands at stud in France. Gracious Me, the dam of On My Way II, was an allowance winner at 2 and earned $7,375.

NOTE: Although foaled in the United States, the colt was not named prior to being shipped to France and was not registered by The Jockey Club until coming back for the International. The original On My Way, foaled in 1939 by Identify--Beldore, won 11 of 51 career starts and earned $27,775.

OWNER--XAVIER BEAU

Xavier Beau, born in Paris in 1909, gave up a career in law to become president of a chain of stores, most of them in southwestern France. He entered racing in 1968, starting with several horses trained by Roger Goaille. He now has about 20 horses divided among six trainers, with the best handled by Noel Pelat, Maxime Bonaventure and Francois Mathet.

ON MY WAY II

(ON MY WAY II-continued)

OWNER--XAVIER BEAU

Four years ago, Beau purchased a stud farm at Manneville-la-Pipard. The resident stallions include Citheron, which won four times and placed in a number of top events including a third-place finish to Rheingold in the 1973 Prix Ganay, and Lisaro, a five-time winner.

During World War II, Beau was a pilot in the French air force, and piloting his own plane is still his greatest pleasure.

TRAINER--NOEL PELAT

Noel Pelat is making his second appearance in the International. He saddled Mi Carina, a filly which finished fourth when Bald Eagle notched the first of his two straight victories in 1959. Pelat's brother, Georges Pelat, trained the 1956 winner Master Boing and returned to Laurel in 1957 with Denisy, which finished eighth. Another elder brother, Rene, also is a successful trainer.

Noel Pelat, 58, was born at Mont-de-Marsan in Les Landes. He was schooled by Georges when he began as an apprentice jockey at age 14. He won more than 500 races at the flat tracks and over the jumps and twice rode the winner of the Grande Steeplechase de Paris.

Since becoming a trainer in 1942, Pelat has saddled more than 2,400 winners. He has been the leading trainer in France six times, either in flat racing or under hunt rules. In addition to the champion French filly Mi Carina, Pelat also trained Prince Bio, a champion which became a leading sire, and Wild Risk, another outstanding sire. One of Wild Risk's progeny, Worden II, won the second International in 1953.

Pelat also is a breeder, and raises horses at his own stud farm near Deauville. He is interested in many sports, including boxing, cycling, soccer and rugby. As president of the Rugby Club of Maisons-Laffitte, he supervises the training of the town's team. Fond of traveling, Pelat spends his winter holidays in warmer climes, especially Florida and the Caribbean.

ON MY WAY II

(ON MY WAY II-continued)

JOCKEY--Alfred Gibert

Alfred Gibert is riding for the third time in the last six Internationals. The 30-year-old jockey finished second in each of his previous appearances, aboard Miss Dan II in 1970 and with Irish Ball in 1971.

A native of Carion, Calvados, Gibert has always been fond of wildlife and animals, especially horses. He started as an apprentice jockey at age 14 at Maisons-Laffitte, and within five years he was a contract rider for the Countess Margit Batthyany in France. The Countess last year sent Marduk to the International, representing Germany.

ON MY WAY II

SHADY CHARACTER
(United States)

Four-year-old chestnut colt by Graustark--
Eastern Princess, by Nasrullah

Shady Character, a homebred of Ogden Mills Phipps, was added to the International field after winning the 1 3'8-mile Knickerbocker Handicap on the turf course at Belmont last Monday. The colt also won the Knickerbocker last year, when it was run at 1 5'8 miles at Aqueduct, plus the Khaled Handicap.

This year, Shady Character was third to London Company, a 1973 International competitor, in the Bougainvilles; second by three-quarters of a length to Snow Knight in a division of the Manhattan Handicap, and sixth by four lengths to Snow Knight in the Canadian Championship. He has earned $64,465 this year, and $157,735 for his career.

Graustark, Shady Character's sire, won his first seven starts before breaking down while finishing second in the Blue Grass Stakes of 1966. He won the Bahamas and Arch Ward Stakes before retiring with $75,904 in earnings. Graustark has sired 19 stakes winners, including Key to the Mint, the champion 3-year-old of 1972; Avatar, the 1975 Belmont Stakes winner; and Caracolero, the French 3-year-old champion of 1974 which won the French Derby.

Eastern Princess, Shady Character's dam, won five races and $33,000 during her career. She was placed in three stakes, including the Selima Stakes at Laurel in 1960. A daughter of the great sire Nasrullah, Eastern Princess is a full sister to the late and great Bold Ruler. Nasrullah sired more than 100 stakes winners while leading the list of sires in both England and North America.

OWNER--OGDEN MILLS (DINNY) PHIPPS

Ogden Mills Phipps, 35, is a third-generation member of the Phipps family to be connected with Thoroughbred racing. His grandmother, Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps, headed the great Wheatley Stable. His

SHADY CHARACTER

(SHADY CHARACTER-continued)

parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ogden Phipps, also were prom-
inent in the sport and a sister, Cynthia, started
Singh in the 1975 Preakness Stakes.

Young Phipps, who prefers to be called Dinny, was
graduated from Yale in 1963. He started his stable
in the early 1960s with the purchase of a couple of
mares. One was Past Eight, which was later bred to
Better Self and the foal, Time Tested, won four
stakes at 3. Alpine Lass is a current stakes winner
for the stable.

Phipps was elected to The Jockey Club in 1965 and to
the New York Racing Association's board of trustees
in 1971. This year, he was named to the newly-
created post of vice chairman of the board of the
NYRA. He was also named chairman of a special com-
mittee selected by the Florida Board of Business
Regulations to consider the possibility of restruc-
turing Thoroughbred racing in the state,

Phipps grew up in Roslyn, N.Y., and now lives in
Florida. A former national doubles champion in
court tennis, he now competes in powerboat racing.

TRAINER--JOHN W. RUSSELL

John W. Russell was born into racing at Lincolnshire,
England. His father, Australian-born Jim Russell,
had trained horses in Argentina, France and South
Africa--where he was the leading trainer for years--
before settling in England. John galloped horses
for his father at 10 and schooled his jumpers before
coming to the United States at age 17 in 1953,
"ostensibly to go to school."

But Russell, instead of attending Stanford University,
climbed the fence at Tanforan and got his first job
galloping horses. He later went to New England and
worked as an exercise boy and groom under Jim Beattie,
who had done some business with Russell's father.
After working as a free lance exercise boy, Russell
landed with Ben and Jimmy Jones at Calumet Farm in
1956. By 1958, he had a trainer's license and
handled Fred W. Hooper's second string at Gulfstream.

SHADY CHARACTER

(SHADY CHARACTER-continued)

By 1961, Russell took over training for Mrs. Laura Hooper, and had his first stakes winner with Tibidabo. In September, 1970, he became head trainer for the entire stable of Fred W. Hooper, and left to join the Phipps' stable on Sept. 1, 1973. His stakes winners include Susan's Girl, the 3-year-old filly champion of 1972 and the older filly or mare champion of 1973, plus Tri Jet, Outdoors, Singh and Shady Character.

JOCKEY--ANGEL CORDERO JR.

Angel Cordero, one of the nation's leading jockeys in recent years, finished fourth in 1974 with 341 winners and was less than $20,000 behind leading money-winner Laffit Pincay Jr., with $4,231,441 in earnings. Through Nov. 2 of this year, Cordero had posted 221 winners and ranked sixth in the money-winning standings at $2,746,973.

Cordero, 33, began riding in his native Puerto Rico in 1960 under his father, who was a trainer. In 1962, Cordero came to the United States mainland, and at first failed to catch on with New York horsemen. Pursuaded not to return home by fellow jockey Eddie Belmonte, Cordero soon became successful. By 1967, he was the nation's third leading rider and in 1968 he won the national championship with 345 winners. He is one of a few jockeys who have won more than 1,000 races in New York.

In his only other International appearance, Cordero finished third aboard Czar Alexander in 1969.

SHADY CHARACTER