The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-23
Some Big Winnings We're Made
on the Derby.
Estimated That Three Future
Books Cleaned Up $4,000.
O'LEARY $4,000 AHEAD
Drake Backed SayabIe to the
Last Moment.
Chicago THURMAN Stood to Win
a Cool 100000.

Chicago, June 23.-Makers of future
books coined money on the American
Derby. They began taking money in
February and March, and kept taking
it until the last moment. The defeat
of the favorite and the failure of Irish
Lad to come gave them the opportunity
to win fortunes. Estimates made by
the bookmakers themselves, or by per-
sons close to them, made their winnings
as folloygs:
Jim O'Leary, $65ooo; Kid Weller. s4O,-
600; Smith & Perry. $4,000: total. s125.-
0ea,
Jim O'Leary, who made the largest
future book ever operated on an Amer
lean turf event, may have won much
more than the amount estimated.
q 1eary would rather give the impress
sion that he just about broke even
Some bookmakers who know the SIZE
of the book O'Leary conducted say
that he made the largest winning profit
that a future book ever brought to its
operator.
When Savable ran outside the money
. Leafy was safe. He was touched up
Tor one big bet. He wrote a ticket Of
$4,000 to $4,000 on The Picket and hal
to settle. That was the only spot in
which O'Leary's book was hard hit all
though he lost about $4,000 on Claude
for place and show.
Even after the defeat, John Drake,
the owner of Savable, was the central
figure of Derby day. A year ago Drake
proved himself generous winner, dis
tributing large share of his winnings
on Wyeth among his trainer, jockey
and all the others who were associated
with him in the victory. This year,
although badly disappointed man, he
showed himself as generous and game
a loser. brakes faith in Savable never
waned. From the time of the announce
ment of the first winner book odds un~
til five minutes before the horses went
to the post, he backed his horse stead
lily and generously.
Brake stood to win a sortune-asti-
mated as high as $500 000-had SaNable
won. ana of course the defeat meant Il
big actual loss TO him. Some saw much
to criticise in Jockey Reiff, many 9TH
ers found excuses for the popular idol
Savable but Drake took his defeat
phiIosophieally, offered no if stories,
and said his confidence in Savable il
still mistaken. and this confidence may
result in some interesting races in the
near future.
Rome Respess has the hardest kind Of
a hard luck story. His colt, Barnays.
would have walked home, with any
kind Of racing luck. The form to the
contrary he was nevertheless, the fir
tenth horse to get Strengthened out in
the stretch and made up at least
twenty lengths in that distance home.
When Tommy Knight dismounted he
WAS crying bitterly, and insisted that
Barnays would have won if he could
have run unhamDered.
Carroll Reid, trainer of The Picket.
backed him at 80 to L and also put a
bet down for his hancee. Miss Wander
WORT at the same price. Reid will be
married next month Re never lost
faith in his colt. though he lost for
tune betting on him as -year-ola
The Louisville delegation was in 4
happy mood, as each man backed The
Picket. which was the only Louisville
horse in the race, and he upheld the
honor of his "Old Kentucky Home bv
winning the great event.