New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10
Johnny Lotus
Bears Honors
With Modesty
always Sure of Boots, "
Says Veteran Jockey Who
Won Suburban Handicap
Bv HARRIETTE UNDERHILL


Johnny Comes Marching Home after
the big race at Belmont Park yester-
day, but Johnny LOTUS didn't mind, for
he is not temperamental. We discov-
cred this after he had won the Sub
urban Handicap with Boots. He never
has stage fright and he is not unduly
elated when he wins.
This handicap was the most exciting
race we ever had seen. with 10000 or
perhaps $4,000 persons cheering, and so
when it was all over and we had recov-
cred our breath we determined to find
out how the winners felt about it.
To our mind Johnny LOTUS was the
most important person, for he had been
pretty close 20 Boots when he win,
while W. B. Jennings, the trainer, and
A. X. Macomber. the owner, had OF
necessity been forced to watch the
finish from the clubhouse.
Now, we are not hero worshipper,
save in those rare cases where the hero
has achieved something, but VIC con-
f>ss that we felt a distinct thrill as We
grasped the hand that had piloted home
our choice IN the big handicap. We eH-
pected young LOTUS to talk the way he
rode, but he didn't say anything, only
blushed, and so we said:
Tell US how it feels to be riding the
winner in race like that. We're you
frightened. and didn't you nearly die OF
heart dsease?'
LOTUS Always Sure of Boots
To which johnny replied: ooh, no.
! knew Boots was going to win, and !
was not at all worried. Perhaps ten
years ago | might have had a thrill,
but that is all past. | merely do the
best can and don't worry" Ten years
ago! And then we had been wondering
why the Gerry Society didn't get after
him.
We then learned that Johnny LOTUS
is twenty-four years old. and that he
has been riding for ten years. A vet
eran he calls himself. So that is how
Johnny felt about winning.
Next we talked with W. B. Jennings,
and we found him almost equally con-
servative in his estimate of the amount
of Joy to be had out of winning the
Suburban Handicap. II is our private
opinion that both he and young Johnny
LOTUS were just as delighted as we
should have been if we had won it, only
they didn't want TO say so. What Mr..
Jennings said was: "Of course, it's
nice 70 win, and of course I'm delighted,
but think of how respondent III be the
next time | lose. The memory of this
victory won't cheer me up a bit"
Mr. Macomber was more demonstra-
tive. He tried to shake hands with
every one who crowded round to con-
graduate him, and II kept him busy
for the rest Of the afternoon. 81 should
rather have won that race here in New
York than any other race anywhere in
the world"
True Strain of Firenze
Those who saw Boots win yesterday
said: There are those ancestral pro-
clivities The immortal Firenze has
transmitted her speed and endurance
into the third and fourth generation"
Hessian, sire OF Boots, is by Water
cress, out of Colonial. while his dam,
Little Flower. is by Star Ruby, out Of
Fleurette, a daughter Of Firenze.
Fringe, who was a little mare only
1871 hands. was the greatest distance
mare in the country, but she did not
transmit her qualities to her own chill
dren. She was saving them evidently
for her great great grandchildren.
Hinee Boots
There were 100 women at Belmont,
but none of the 9,99S were any more
beautiful than the two which Frank
Balm had in his box. One was Mrs.
Balm. whose blonde loneliness appeared
TO advantage in a blue chiffon frock
done in gold; the other was the lovely
lady who brings home the winners by
stamping her right foot and swapping
her fingers. She was the unconscious
cynosure of number of pairs OF eyes
yesterday and by the time she had
picked the winners in the first three
races those who had scoffed at US were
convinced.
Sartonally speaking, it was a close
race yesterday between Kolinsky and
Ermine. They travelled neck ard neck
so 20 speak, but we thing Kolinsky won
by a nose.
Entries Tor Naval Battle
Five seconds after Dovedale won the
last race those nearest the staircases
were hurrying away and on the way
out every one Of the $4,000 persons
who saw the big race bought a paper
from the enterprising young man who
sang out Here you arel Big naval
battle-with all the entries for Mon
day."