The Question: Does the horse player die broke?
The Answers:
MRS. D. HAIRSTON
BARRINGTON, R. I.
HOUSEWIFE
"I know one who died broke. He committed suicide when he lost all his money. Some he lost in business and the rest on the horses. The day before he died, he gave my husband $50 and asked him to place it on a certain horse. He and the horse lost on the same day."
ROBERT G. JOHNSON
CHICAGO, ILL.
RACETRACK PRESIDENT
"The legend is nonsense. The serious horse players accumulate a lot of money. A flock of them have the game beaten, but they work at it. They know breeding and records and they study form sheets. At the trotters, form stands up 40%, year after year."
TOOTS SHOR
NEW YORK CITY
RESTAURATEUR
"Not always. Horse players are a happy lot. They own Cadillacs one season and ride subways the next. When they lose, they always come up with fresh money. One parlayed $2 into $6,000, then lost it on one race. 'How did you do?' asked his wife. 'Blew the deuce,' he replied."
MRS. PEGGY CRAW
WESTPORT, CONN.
HOUSEWIFE
"There are four types of horse players. The first runs and bets his own horses. The second bets for fun. The third waits for a spot to bet. If he loses, he won't bet to get even. He waits for another spot. The fourth is the gambler who bets horses like blackjack. He dies broke."
TRACY SMELZER
GREENWICH, CONN.
SALES MANAGER
"Yes. The Chinese know that. They are the greatest gamblers in the world. They will bet on anything except a horse race. That's because of an ancient bit of Oriental wisdom. Confucius said: 'It was proven a long time ago that one horse can run faster than another.' "
MRS. BEA SMYTH
DEARBORN, MICH.
HOUSEWIFE
"Not always. The fabulous Chicago O'Brien died with a million. We come into this world with nothing. And we'll leave with nothing. There's no greater thrill than having a bet on a horse and cheering him in. Horse players live a wonderful life—Miami or California in winter, Saratoga in summer."
JAMES D. SINGLETON
CHICAGO, ILL.
ADVERTISING
"Definitely. Some years ago, two brothers each earned $25,000 a year. One took bets and the other played the horses. The bookie who took bets left an estate of $250,000. His brother died broke. Jimmy Thompson of the old Little Club took up a collection to bury him."
COL. JACK J. AMIEL
PARIS, KY.
REALTOR
"Not the true horse player. He knows and loves horses. Sometimes he breeds and races them. He'll bet, but only on his knowledge of horseflesh. With him it's a sport, not a gamble. I'm that kind of horse player. I was lucky to have owned a great horse, Count Turf, who won the Kentucky Derby."
MICHELLE CONDRE
HOUSTON, TEXAS
HOSTESS
"That depends. I know horse players who go to the tracks once or twice a week. They love horse racing as a sport and the thrill of winning an occasional bet. They bet with common sense. The horse player who dies broke is the guy who bets horses as he would a roulette wheel."
JAMES J. ANDREWS
NEW YORK CITY
MORTICIAN
"You can't beat the races. That's why bookies stay in business. I'll tell you a true story. In 1926 an old bookie, Frank Florentine buried one of his horse players who died broke. In his casket Frank placed a package of Ivanhoe tobacco, a corncob pipe, a pint of whiskey and a racing form."
ILLUSTRATION
TEN PHOTOS
ILLUSTRATION
"That was your driver's license, Social Security card and a five dollar bill you just tore up."