view raw text
■ iwwfr- -■■■ «■ Tin Delaware By Charles Hatton : » Westward Ho Shows New Facet of Ability Saratoga Preps for Weed-Ends Richards Tom Kellys Modern Day Alger Story DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., June 6.— The Kent here last week end was excellent entertainment, with former ambassador Breckinridge Longs Westward ■ Ho, Ho, responding responding beautifully beautifully to to a a Ho, Ho, responding responding beautifully beautifully to to a a change in strategies, coming to the finish of that mile and a sixteenth an exciting nose before Craigwood, who was only second by half his length before the blue-bookish Alibhai Lashes. This Jast named entrant was the favorite with a substantial crowd of 25,000, but simply was not quite good enough, though he was perfectly pla~ced all the way. Indeed, the fourth fourth to to finish, fjnish Blazing Blazing Count, Count, iwwfr- -■■■ «■ Tin fourth fourth to to finish, fjnish Blazing Blazing Count, Count, was only another half length away in a field of eight. The successful Lochnivar colt, bred in neighboring Maryland, negotiated the distance in 1:43% under a moderate 111 pounds. This admittedly is nothing to make Nashua or Swaps stallwalk nervously, but then they are not looking for either of those, and the resolute way in which Westward Ho ran in what was his first start beyond six furlongs suggests he may develop further as the season progresses. Racing secretary Gil Haus incidentally considers the Kent to have been a better race than the Peter Pan, up at Belmont Park, and it has a certain relevance to the richer, 5,000 added Leonard Richards of nine furlongs here next Saturday. Frank "Downey" Bonsai, who has been reserving the mettlesome Saratoga for the Richards, also trains Westward Ho, and he now may have two to saddle for this slightly longer event. Harry Guggenheims Racing Fool is an arrival from Long Island for the race, and probably Craigwood, so narrowly beaten in a gallant try for the Kent7 will reappear for it. The combined efforts of Alibhai Lashes and Westward Ho, attacking him in relays, were required to bring him down in last week-ends stake. Alibhai Lashes made a run at him on the last turn and through the final furlong Westward Ho initiated his winning maneuver, getting up in the very last strides in what is technically known as "a blanket finish." Rice Trainer Entered Racing at 13 Like the old-fashioned ice cream freezer and hand-cranked autos, the Alger stories seem to be passing from the American scene. But here at Delaware Park there is a young man who still pursues the theory that industry and application over long hours have their reward in ultimate success. This is the personable Thomas J. Kelly, who trains Mrs. Ada L. Rices string, one of the most prominent now active in the East. Recalling his early struggles, Kelly said, "I tore up my graduation suit going over the fence at Pimlico, when I was 13, and I have been on a race track ever since. There was a depression going on. My father had just died, and my mother, three brothers and a sister were in desperate financial circumstances. I loved horses, and I got a job walking hots for John Hertz." Now at 36 this native of Pikesville, "where he still makes his home on the fringe of Baltimore, says he has read where he finished college. "I graduated from St. Ambroses grammar school and that was the end of my education. I had to go to work." But for a man of his years, Kelly has a fund of practical informal education in his chosen field. From walking horses, he went to the late J. W. Y. Martins Farm in Baltimore County, where he worked for five years. From there to the Circle M Farm, where he spent another four years, before World War II interrupted his career. Kelly was three years and eight months in the Army, and was in the-thick of the conflict in Germany and France. Something more than a year after his release from the Armed Forces, Kelly was employed as a trainer by Many Donovan, owner of the Thorncliff Farm, Richmond. It was during his tenure with Thorn-cliff Kelly established himself as a knowledgeable trainer, on the Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey circuit, and he soon caught the eye of Chicagos grain baron Dan Rice. For the Rices he developed Ring King, then made a championship aspirant of Pet Bully, who was generally considered a fairly hopeless cripple. Kellys trainees now number 29, and his principafbusi-ness at hand is developing the strings promising two-year-olds, and pointing Cerise Reine for the "new" New Castle and the 50,000 Delaware Handicap, worlds richest filly-and-mare event. Kelly says he derives a special gratification from "bringing along the f young stock. When a horse is made, you have to worry about the handicap weights, but the two-year-olds and three-year-olds are a pleasure." Saratoga Prepares for Leonard Richards j ; Turf ana: Saratoga was on the local course this morning for some calisthenics in preparation for the Richards, going a handy mile in 1:41 . . . Lalun is an arrival for the fabulous filly features . . . There is 0,000 in breeder and nominator awards in the Dela-. .ware Handicap . . . Delaware Park has 23 miles of roads . . . The Stanton Chase season starts on the 20th, with shipments of hedge talent arrival beginning the 16th . . . Tommy Kellys younger brother John, 28, acts as his as his assistant. His older brother Edward trains for Harry Isaacs Brookfield Farm . . . No fewer than five doctors alternate on duty at this meeting . . . Coincidental, Nick Shuk won the sixth and seventh races here the other day, both mounts breaking from No. 1 post position, and each paying .80. . . . Delaware provides 70 Daily Double machines.
