ST. PETERSBURG — On Jan Alderson's 60th birthday, she received an unexpected surprise.
Her telephone rang with the news that Fiesta Mercury had just scored his most impressive career victory at Derby Lane — a 15-length romp in a Grade A sprint — to edge three-time All-America first-team member and track all-time win leader Husker Magic for top dog honors at the July-to-December meet in 2015.
"(Fiesta Mercury) never stood out (at first), because we get (greyhounds) so young," she said. "But we always liked him. He's no trouble in the kennel. … You don't even know he's there. He's a very sweet boy."
Fiesta Mercury, who started his career in Alderson kennel for breeders and owners David and Jeff Blair of Abilene, Kan., would be Alderson's final win leader.
Ms. Alderson, 62, died Monday from cancer in St. Petersburg. She owned Derby Lane's longest-tenured kennel until December, when she retired and the three-generation family operation was dissolved. The kennel began in the 1930s.
Ms. Alderson took over the kennel in 1997 when her father, E.J. "Eddy" Alderson, retired. Mr. Alderson died in 2014.
Four of her family members have been enshrined to the Greyhound Hall of Fame in Abilene, Kan.: grandfather Perry Alderson (1981); uncles G.A. "Sonny" Alderson (1986) and Highley Alderson (1975); and E.J. "Eddy" Alderson (2000).
"The Alderson name is etched in the lore of greyhound racing in the U.S.," said National Greyhound Association executive director Jim Gartland. "Jan was just a part of that. Her family's name carries in the business, but Jan made her mark on it as well.
"She was fun and happy, and really concerned and cared about the dogs. She was a great dog handler. … She did a great job with the dogs."
Ms. Alderson's final stakes winner came in 2017 with 12-1 shot Bella Gigan in the $18,000 1925 Historical Inaugural. It was one of her 4,258 victories in statistics available since 2003.
During that timeframe, Ms. Alderson's best season came at the January-to-June 2015 meet when the kennel finished second in wins to three-time champion Burk Greyhounds. She also had two meet win leaders with Dewey Millions (2009) and Fiesta Mercury, and three stakes-winning dogs: Fiesta Bruno ($20,000 Gold Trophy Juvenile in 2015); Lamorge Streaker ($8,000 T.L. Weaver Memorial Challenge in 2009); and Bella Gigan.
Ms. Alderson, a resident of St. Petersburg, graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 1977.
She is survived by her mother, Eleanor Alderson; sister, Ann Alderson; daughter, Lisa Lesperance; and son, Gregory Lesperance, who worked in his mother's kennel.
A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at R. Lee Williams & Son Funeral Home, 3530 49th St. N. in St. Petersburg. The family will receive friends one hour before the service.