Evening Star Newspaper, January 31, 1932, Page 82

WASHINGTON, DIsE JANUARY 31, 1932, THE SUNDAY STAR, Being the Full and Complete Confession of Mr. Eddie Botts Concern- ing theVery Confusing Occurrences at a Celebrated Race Course forCanines. GREAT many people have asked me how it was the prenomenal canine entitled Lightning Flash lost the famous greyhound Derby last Win- ter raci season in Miami, and I am t: this means of answering them 1 worked for the Bob Chauncey Kennels and led the dog to the post for that fatal race, and 1 can therefore give the real lowdown on this im- portant matter that has long been a sore puzzle to all. It is a sorrowful fact to add that I have been accused of feeding the animal hamburger before the race, of doping him, and also of sticking a cockleburr into one of his delicate foreleet. These aforesaid accusations, however, are a gross libel, for wherever greyhounds are known the name of Eddie Botts, trainer and post boy, which is myself, is respected and ad- mired In brief, no amount of money could tempt me to double cross the public. I will also say at this point that there was no more bitterly disappointed person in the crowd of 20,000 spectators that witnessed the defeat of the dog in question than was the writer of this truthful document. The fact is, I myself lost a century note on the race. O get to the core of the tragic situation, the reason the phenomenal canine entitled Lightning Flash was a mere also-ran in the Miami Derby was because Fifi Marcelle, the famous actress of the films, had a perfume for every mood. This statement needs some ex- planation, and I will explain as I go along. Mr. Bob Chauncey, my boss, obtained the animal later known as Lightning Flash two vears ago during a racing meet in St. Louis. His parents were just weinies, and Mr. Bob never expected much of the pup. He turned him over to me to train, lightly suggesting I make another Cool Caress or Mission Boy out of him 1 could see I had some good material to work on. The pup was strong and healthy and had an unusual good pair of hind legs. I soon had him breezing after tke bunny like a veteran, and when I put some other pups in the starting trap with him he seemed right away to know the secret of “breaking the box.” He quickly picked up the wise habit of forc- jng his practice rivals to the outside, himself clinging to the inner rail. He refused to let the pack bunch him in, and he never stopped to fight when some sore mutt would nip him on the hin In brief, I decided he was a born racer. ERE at the well known Floral Park plant Lightning Flash won every event in which Te was entered. He literally took the racing fans by storm. As approached the Derby, in which ran the best weinies in that section, it was generally admitted that he had the edge on them all, and the betting odds skyrocketed to two to one in his favor tc win, four to one to show and six to one to place I myself was told this by Mr. Chuck Connors, a well known gentleman gambler who followed the dc and it was common knowledge that thie v possible contendant that stood a char to beat him was one Pinkie Lad, a sickly look weinie that every now and then coul 1to thinking he wasn’t going 1« One 1 unny morning I was walking with the che the park on Biscayne Bay when an erly gentleman, whom I later found out was 2 Mr. McDougal, a snuff manufacturer from Illinois. stopped me Hr “That is a handsome dog you have cve I i 1id: “Yes, sir. Thanks, sir. He i: Lighining Flash, the well known phenomenal of the Bob Chauricey Kennels.” HE elderly gentleman seemed somewhat puzzled. He said, “Well, he looks like a good dog, anyway. I believe he would make a nice companion for my little boy Clarence, aged 8. Tell you what I'll do—TI'll give you $5 for him. That's a good, generous offer.” I laughed forgivingly and said, “It may sur- prise you, sir, to hear that no more than a week ago the owner of this dog was offered a cash sum of $500 for him.” The gentleman said, “That‘ is outrageous No dog in the world is worth $500. Well, I am staying at the Roney Plaza on the beach, and if ever you change your mind let me know.” He then thrust a card in my hand and walked on. At this point a girl sitting alone on a nearby park bench spoke up. She said, “Some per- sons cannot appreciate the unusual in a dog May I ask, sir, if that fine looking animal is truly Lightning Flash, the famous racing grey- hound about which the papers have printed so much these past few months I admitted modestly it was none other, for I could see right away the girl was no nominal girl and knew real dog flesh when she saw it. Also she was pretty and had a nice figure. I may say at this point I am unmarried, although not much of a hand with the ladies. E naturally got into a conversation, and 1 told her the history of Lightning Flash, and when this was done, two hours later, we went to a cold drink stand and had a drink. She then informed me her name was Lillian Smith, and that she was the personal maid of Miss Fifi Marcelle, a famous actress of the films, who was then sojourning in the city. During the drink I politely said, “It must be very interesting to work for a movie queen, Miss Smith.” She said: “If you don't mind, please call me Lillian. And I'll call you Eddie.” She blushed, and I may say at this point if there is any girl I am partial to it is the girl who blushes “Yes, Eddie, it is indeed very interesting to work for a movie queen. Miss Marcelle, luck- JosePH FAus lllustrated by George Clark ily for me, is as kind and considerate as she is rich and lovely. She has had a remarkable success—a success. I may mention, that is largely due to perfumes.” This naturally made me curious, and I po- litely asked what she meant. HE said: “Well, Miss Marcelle sincerely be- lieves in perfumes as a molder of character and destiny. She maintains their influence is all-powerful. She has a perfume for every mood known to mankind. “She even has a good luck perfume, and when she uses this she says some good luck is bound to happen to her—and it always does. I well remember the time she put some of this perfume on her neglige, and the very next hour a special delivery letter arrived that con- tained a check for overdue alimony from her third husband “But do not let me talk forever on this bore- some subject. Please tell me what is the best time in which Lightning Flash has made the three-quarters hurdle?” I told her this. as she plainly was a true dog-racing fan, and also took the opportunity to add some of his other marvelous achieve- ments At my polite suggestion we then walked to her hotel, and there I made a date with her to go to a movie the next night, after which I shook her cordially by the hand and made my departure. HE next night we enjoyed the movie, but when we came out of the theater lobby onto the street I could see Lillian was quite anxious about something. I politely asked her what was the trouble. She said: “Well, Eddie, to tell the truth, I put some of Miss Marcelle’s good luck per- fume on my handkerchief and so far no good luck has happened to me.” I naturally started to kid her by asking what more good luck could she want than to know Eddie Botts himself, but just at that moment she stooped down quickly, and when she straightened up there was a crumpled $20 bill in her hand. She excitedly said: “Look what I found! Oh, I just knew I would have some good luck tonight. Come on, Eddie, we'll take®a ride.” I thereupon hailed a taxicab, of course say= ing I would not permit her to pay for it, and we then proceeded to enjoy a nice ride in the moonlight. During the ride Lillian leaned close to me and said: “Say, Eddie, how would you like to have some good luck happen to you?”’ HE then opened a bottle which she had sneaked out, containing the good luck per= fume, and sprinkled a few drops on my cheek, It smelled sweet and tickled a bit, but soon dried up. Lillian carefully placed the vial back in her purse and seriously said: “Now you will have some good luck pretty soon, Eddie. Believe me, the perfume never fails.” An hour later when I arrived in my room near the race track kennels I saw a small package on my dresser. Immediately thinking of the good luck that was supposed to happen to me, I eagerly opened it and saw inside & fine new gold watch, costing at least 50 cash dollars. There was a note also. The note said, “Dear Eddie, old boy, I have been in on the money so much since you have handled Lightning Flash that I am more than grateful to you. Please take this modest gift as a slight token of my professional esteem. Respectively yours, Chuck Connors. P.8: X am putting all I got in the world on L. P. for the Derhy. He is a sure winner, thanks to you. .C. €. T seemed that everybody in Florida came to the Derby next night at the Floral Park track. By 8 o'clock the grandstand and bleach= ers were crammed. The band played, every= one talked ang laughed, and it was a real gala night. Mr. Bob, as the time for the mile Derby Continued on Eighteenth Page She said: “Well. Miss Marcelle sincerely believes in perfumes as a molder of destiny. She even has a good Tuck perfume, and when she uses this she: says some good luck is beund to happen to her.