The Washington times., 1906-02-11
Smathers Indignantly
Denies Doping Horse
Says c. K. q. Billings Is Real Instieator of
Charges Against Him About Major Del
mar Beating Lou Dillon.

NEW YORK, Feb. IO.-Nothing has
happened ia years TO create such a stir
in turfdOm as the sensational charges
preferred against Elmer E. Smathers by
the Memphis Trotting Association.
which is now seeking TO regain posses
sion of the Memphis gold cup by pro-
ceedings based on the charge that Mr..
Smathers had guilty knowledge of the
doping of the great trotting mare
Lou Dillon by George Speer and Edward
Sanders in her race against c. X. G..
Billings Major Delmar. in Memphis on
October IS. 1904. The cup was seized
BY deputy sheriff last night. Smathers
denies emphaucally that he knew any
thing Of the alleged doping" OF Lou
Dillon, and viii fight the case TO the
finish.
Will Fight for Cup.
When seen today. he said:
i will get that cup back or know
The reason why. The man who is real
ly responsible for these malicious
charges is none other tnan c. X. q.
Billings. We will prove at the proper
tlne that Sanders and Speer are mere
hgureheIds, and that Billings is the real
instigatoT of those charges.
II Is true that Lou Dillon beat Major
uelmar a year previous to their encoun-
Ter in Memphis The Major had been
steadily improving in the interval. how
ever. l tipped off all my friends that
he ought TO win. although the odds were
posted al l00 to 25 against him.
nope TO get d speedy hearing in
court but you know how slow the law
Is Ihe suit may not come I'D for
trial FOR year. In the meantime ir
gives persons a chance to sling All
sorts Of mud at me-
The complaint OF the Memphis Trot-
ting Association, after reviewing the
allegations made by Sanders and
Speer regarding the conspiracy to de-
fett the Billings mare. goes on TO say
that the association was DAMAGED in
the sum OF $4,000. 1t demands posses
sion OF the cup, OF Judgment for the
sum Of SS,500. in case possession can
not be given TO the pIaintifr. together
with $500 damages for the detention
/ OF the cup since October. 1894, besides
the costs Of the action.
Sanders Tells His Story.
In his afidayit Edward Sanders gives
eis age as forty-five years. his resi-
~NtaNt flh oNG1 AtuIh avenue. 81. Louis
Mo- and his occupation as a dealer in
horses to the extent Of folle wing the
Grand Circuit trottinE races. He saws
he is a brother OF Millard Sanders. the
trainer and driver who had the mare
Lou Dillon in charge during 1902 1908
and 1904.
Sanders swears that he met George
SpeeT. a [ that time employed by Smath-
ers, in Lexington. Ky. in October. 1904
and had talk with him abou. fixing
Lou Dillon so that she could not win
the Memphis Gold Cup race. He CSand.
eTs} says that he had previously talked
with SmatheTs over the possibility OF
Major Delmar beating Lou Dillon in the
Gold Cup race, and had inva ria bly
hooted AT him for imagining that ne had
chance. Smathers IaughingIy asked
If something could not be done TO stou
the mare in the race. and answered
Yes, II YOU will hand the money"
When ne met Speer saws Sanders
Speer said that the boss" said 5000
was TOO high a price. Later Sanders
saws he met SmatheTs and was asked
if he could fix the mare and deliver the
goods to make il look like a pretty fair