1968 Washington D.C. International Sir Ivor- Ireland Ceramic Ashtray

Sz: 5 1/4" x 7 3/8"

Ireland's Sir Ivor, $5.80, Captures $150,000 Washington D. C. International; CZAR ALEXANDER IS NEXT AT LAUREL Piggott Guides Victor Home by Three-Quarters Length -- Fort Marcy Is Third

LAUREL, Md., Nov. 11-Sir Ivor, Ireland's representative in the $150,000 Washington D. C. International, flashed a thrilling closing effort today to win the 17th running of the famous 1½-mile event on the turf. With a crowd of 30,183 watching, Sir Ivor proved himself as the $5.80-for-$2 favorite by scoring a three-quarter length victory over Gustave Ring's Czar Alexander, representing this country. Next in the field of eight was the other American representative, the Rokeby Stable's Fort Marcy, who won the 1967 International. Fort Marcy, finished 1½ lengths in front of the fourth horse. Carmarthen of France. Raymond Guest, the former Ambassador to Ireland, owns Sir Ivor and he was in the winner's circle to accept the victory trophy while the band played the Irish national anthem, The Soldiers Song, as the Irish colors were raised on the flag staff. Guest is one of the leading owners in this country, and he also has extensive thoroughbred interests in Ireland.

An American Background

His representative in today's renewal made for a truly international offering, one in which this country can claim a great part. For the 3-year-old Sir Ivor also has American credentials, inasmuch as he was foaled in Kentucky, a son of Sir Gaylord and Attica. Because Sir Ivor's trainer, Vincent O'Brien, has his main base in that country, Guest's horse was accepted as the representative of the Emerald Isle. Whatever the background of the horse, he demonstrated his racing capabilities to the satisfaction of all concerned. He had to overcome difficulties both from the softness of the grass turf and the crowding in front of him when he made his move. But his jockey, Lester Piggott, rode with the competence that has stamped him as one of the world's great riders and brought his mount home in time. The colt's clocking has 2:37 1-5, hardly comparable to the 2:23 4-5, that constitutes the record Kelso set in the 1964 running. Again, the softness of the turf after the heavy rains, and snow, of the last few days, were the reason for the slow time.

Turf Slows Him

After the race, Piggott said, "If the turf had been hard, we'd have won by a hundred yards." As a 3-year-old, Sir Ivor carried 120 pounds. Until Sir Ivor made his closing bid, though, there was little for his backers to cheer. Balky entering the gate, and off in sixth place, Sir Ivor dropped back to last and didn't seem to be headed for one of his better performances in the early going. The pace at the beginning was set by a Japanese color- bearer, Takeshiba-O, who gave way to Czar Alexander, with Jorge Velasquez riding. Czar Alexander held the lead to the stretch, where he yielded it to Fort Marcy, only to regain it quickly. While the two American horses dueled, Sir Ivor, almost dismissed by the onlookers, "crashed" the picture with his final rush and succeeded in establishing the first victory in this event for Ireland. The score in the race now stands at eight victories for United States representatives 1 as against nine for visitors. France has won five times, England, Australia and Venezuela once apiece. Trailing the field back of Carmarthen were the French filly La Lagune; the French colt Petrone; the Argentine representative Azincourt, and, last, Takeshiba-0.

An Impressive Record

For Guest, the appearance of Sir Ivor marked his second Washington D.C. International representative. He entered Tom Rolfe in the 1966 renewal and the horse finished sixth. Sir Ivor came here with a most impressive record, which included a victory in the Epsom Derby last May, in which he was the 4-to-5 favorite. This year he has won five of nine starts, finishing second three times and third once. His earnings amount to $460,212, of which $100,000 was gleaned in today's triumph. He had never raced in this country before today. Commenting on the performance of Sir Ivor, O'Brien said, "He's a super horse. He was in difficulty all the way around. Once he got the opening, then ping. Velasquez was proud of the showing of Czar Alexander, who, oddly enough, while representing the United States, is a genuine Irish-bred. "He ran beautifully," said the jockey "The Japanese horse forced us out around the first turn, but when I asked Czar Alexander to run heading into the stretch he did. He didn't quit. But the other horse [Sir Ivor] was too strong.