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BILLY KELLY A TURF IDOL Son of Dick Welles the Present Favorite of Racegoers. Holds the Place Once Occupied by Firenzi, Roamer and Omar Khayyam. NEW YORK, N. Y., November S. Folllowers or the turf have had at different periods some particular thoroughbred which they have placed upon a pedestal. The object of their affections may not have been the greatest performer of the year, but because of some outstanding quality which compelled their admiration they were loyal whether victory or defeat was the portion of their -idol. The great marc Firenzi, which was a turf celebrity twenty-five years ago in the colors of James B. Ilaggin, was of this type. She was the smallest in stature of the great racers to achieve distinction in a period which was noted for its superb horses, and she won the hearts of all by the manner in which she shouldered weight and covered long distancs. Roamer and Omar Khayyam in recent years have the same sentimental following, and even when both of them demonstrated on a number of occasions that their powers had waned they were acclaimed for what they had been. It is possible that the public will never sec either of them again, though it was rumored a month ago that Itoamer will be trained in 1920 in the hope that he would be able to win a race or two, as this would place the total winnings of the unsexed son of Knight Errant and Rose Tree II. above the 00,000 mark. As for Omar Khayyam, he is in the stud, and if lie lives the turf should have some of his sons and daughters racing by 1923. The most recent of turf celebrities to acquire this same sort of a following is Commander J. IC. L. Ross Billy Kelly. This phenomenal gelding, which was bred by Jerome B. Rcspess at Erlanger, Ky., is one of the greatest racing machines the turf has ever known. He was a 500 yearling when bought for W. F. Poison of Buffalo, who passed him on to Commander Ross for 7,500 at Saratoga the next summer. As a two-year-old he started seventeen times and won fourteen races, most of them with big weight up and against the best of his age. It was prophesized that he would be of no account as a thrcc-year-old, but Billy has been smashing records and dethroning champions all year, and he was the real hero of the Kentucky Derby, which was won by his stable companion, Sir Barton, to which he was conceding a big lump of weight. CLASSED AS AN "IRON HORSE." About the middle of June Billy Kelly seemed to be through for the year, as lie was thin and showed .signs of staleness. A short rest at Saratoga, however, worked wonders, and now as the Maryland campaign closes he is at the ton of his form and may well he classed with Itoamer. Robert Waddell, Claude. Blitzcn, Banquet and other "iron" horses of the turf. "Theres the strangest horse I ever had anything .to do with," said trainer Bedwcll at Havre de Grace one day this fall as Billy warmed up with a .pony which he just managed to beat and pulled up so short and choppy as to give the impression that he was sore. "He wont make friends with anybody and doesnt seem to care for anything in the world. Cudgel and others of my horses are fond of their caretakers. Billy, is strictly business at the stable, just as he is on the track." There has seemed to be a disposition to treat Billy Kelly as a sprinter pure and simple, but the race he ran in the Kentucky Derby should disprove :this. If Guy Bedwell should elect to train the long-necked, sleepy-looking son of Dick Welles for ;long-distance racing in 1920 he might be the sensation of the year, barring, of course, Man o War, which gives promise of being in a class by himself. Billy is by Dick Welles, a son of King Eric, and the Hanover dam, Teas Over. Dick was regarded as a brilliant miler, and on the theory that it takes a sprinter to get a stayer Billy should go on. However, an analysis of the female side of Billys pedigree is illuminating. His dam, Glena, is by Free Knight, a son of Longfellow, himself a good stayer, and a brother to Freeland, as good a race horse over a long distance of ground as Ave had thirty years ago. The second dam, Fautress, is by Faustus, whose family lias been known almost entirely for its speed. The third dam. Can Dance", is of stout blood, being a daughter of War Dance. War Dance blood is close up in the tpedigrees of Johren and other great long-distance runners, while the fourth dam, Bank Stock, was sired by Bayonet, a brother to Preakness, the best stayer of his day. Who can tell wtat surprises trainer Bedwell may spring on an unsuspecting public with Billy Kelly in 1920?
