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“The monarch of dogdom,” with a “heart bigger than a cantaloupe” those were just two of the more colorful phrases the press used to describe you during those early 1940’s when you were the champion of racing. Those were hard times in America, and you provided entertainment and a temporary escape from the reality of those early war years.

You were bred and first owned by Hugh Standley of Okemah, Oklahoma. Later you were sold to George Tarpenning, and finally wound up in the hands of your trainer, L.C. “Frenchie” Letourneau.

There have been few greyhounds that could match your determination. Despite being a late starter, you rarely finished out of the money. No track record was ever safe when you were sharp.

The summer of ·43 at Portland found you at your best. Besides smashing records for three courses,  you also won the  Derby by 10 lengths, breaking your own track record. The “Oregonian” daily, in naming its annual sports award winners, created a new award that year just for you.

Your first season at Tampa was frustrating, racing in the shadows of fellow Hall of Fame runner Never Roll. You ran second to him in the Inaugural and the Derby that year, but the following season you handily beat him in the Inaugural. You also won the Tampa Derby the second time around.

In 130 career starts, you tallied a 56-36-22 record. You ran out of the money only 16 times–8 of those your first meet as a green pup.

As a sire, you were also successful, and your name lives on through your many descendants. One of your pups, Beach Comber, preceded you into the Hall of Fame.