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RE1GH COUNT SECOND ♦ Follows Invershin Home in Noted Ascot Gold Cup. ♦ American Horse Favorite and Runs Remarkable Race Though Beaten. ♦ SPECIAL CABLEGRAM. ASCOT, England, June 20. — In one of tha most brilliant races in years, Invershin, owned by Reid Walker, today won the historic Ascot Gold Cup. Reigh Count, Mrs, John D. Hertz American thoroughbred, waa second and Palais Royal II. was third. Due to an avalanche of American money just before the start, Reigh Count started favorite, at 4 to 1. An hour before the race his odds had been quoted at 10 to 1, but a sudden rush of American backing made him favorite in the betting. There were other sudden changes just before the race. Cacao, Jacques Wittoucks Belgian horse, which finished fourth, came up in the betting and ha and Crl de Guerre, a French horse, were second favorites at 6 to 1. Thus, Invershin, which all along has been a strong favorite, with odds an hour before the race quoted at 5 to 2, finished up by paying his backers the comparatively long price of 8 to 1. It was a magnificent race and witnessed by a magnificent throng. Royalty studded the boxes, and anyone who was anyone in English society was on hand to watch tha high point in the historic four-day race meeting here. The Ascot Gold Cup race is the worlda greatest long-distance flat racing classic. It is run over a two and a half mile course for prize money of 0,000 and the beautiful Ascot Gold Cup. Hopes were held out among the American contingent in the stands that Reigh Count might polish off his rivals, which represented the cream of British and continental horseflesh, and come in first. Ever since he was brought to England last fall he had been carefully groomed for this event, and in winning the Coronation Cup at Epsom a few weeks ago he showed his true form. MEETS HIS SUPERIOR. But Invershin, born and bred in Britain, familiar with the Ascot course and with the weight of last years victory behind him, proved too much for the American horse. Cacao, the French horse, owned by Baron Edmonde Rothschild, finished fourth. Of the continental contenders Cacao had been most highly favored, but Palais Royal IL, owned by Jacques Wittouck. the Belgian banker, also received considerable support before the race. Invershin paid his backers 8 to 1 ; Reigh Count. 4 to 1, and Palais Royal IL, 10 to X Invershins victory was complete and con-elusive. But Reigh Count gave him a strong battle. Invershin finished two lengths ahead of the winner of last years Kentucky Derby, and three lengths separated Reigh Count from Palais Royal. The race started seven minutes late, as considerable difficulty was encountered in lining up the highly strung group of thoroughbreds. They got away in a beautiful line at last, however, and a mighty cheer went up from the hundreds of Americans in the stands as Reigh Count forced up among the leaders. Reigh Count was ridden by Harry Wragg. one of Englands finest jockeys, Invershin by Perryman and Palais Royal by Steve Donoghue, formerly the crack rider of the British turf. Although clear of the others at the start. Reigh Count never got nearer than sixth place until the back of the stretch, when the horses turned into the stretch, Invershin led the field by a clear length and then Wragg settled down to ride his mount. WINS BT TWO LENGTHS. Steadily the American horse forged ahead in a magnificent spurt, but it was not strong enough to carry him ahead of Invershin. The British horse also had reserve, for just before the finish, Invershin pulled ahead to increase his winning lead by two lengths. There were to have been fourteen starters, but Molly the Marchioness, a 100 to 8 shot, did not run, reducing the field to thirteen. Plantago, also among the original entrants, was scratched yesterday. The Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Princess Mary and her husband. Viscount Lascelles, and the Duke of Con-naught were among the members of the royal family who watched the contest. All around and in front of them in the royal enclosure were hundreds of notables, including many well known Americans sojourning in England who were fortunate enough to obtain tickets for this restricted area. Although disappointed that Reigh Count did not win, Mrs. Hertz was satisfied that he had run a splendid race, and took the da- ! Ooatinuad o« twenty-fourtn page. REIGH COUNT SECOND Continued from first page. feat merely as one of the breaks characteristic of the turf. Those present at Ascot today saw Reigh Count run his last race. For some time ago Mrs. Hertz made it known that win or lose, Reigh Count would be retired to stud after the Ascot Gold Cup. The short odds of 4 to 1 quoted on Reigh Count bear testimony to the high esteem in which the American thoroughbred was held in British racing circles. After three successive defeats in his first three races in England, when he failed to finish in the money, Reigh Count romped home winner of the Coronation Cup and immediately he emerged from the classification of an "outsider" to second favorite -for the Gold Cup. Reigh Count received a special cheer from the brilliant throng in the stands as he was led in. Scores of Americans crowded around him, and Mrs. Hertz was swamped with congratulatory admirers. "He has run a wonderful race, and I am more than proud of him," Mrs. Hertz said. "We brought him 5,000 miles into a different climate. He ran on grass when he was accustomed to dirt, and he ran on the right side of the course, when he is accustomed to the left, "His trainer has done marvelously with him. He has beaten everything except last years winner." Reigh Count ran a beautiful race, but In-vershin was "just too much for him," according to Harry Wragg, his jockey.
