The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-17

Commission. There was no official
explanation beyond the statement
that Col. E. r. Bradley's ace jockey
had violated a certain rule pertain
ing to betting.
1t is all right for jockeys to bet,
but they must bet on their own
horses, and these bets must be made
either through their employer or
their business agent. Practically all
jockeys bet. No stern effort is made
to enforce the letter of this rule.
1t is only when jockey begins to
bet promiscuously that he becomes
an object of suspicion.
Bet Against Himself
The speediest and most emphatic
way for a jockey to get the old
heave-ho is to ride one horse and
bet on another in the same race.
This is what Meade did, and this
is what cost him his silks. Now
only % years old, the pasty faced,
thin-lippcd youngster who won the
toughest Kentucky Derby ever rid
den on Brokers Tip in 1888, Is
barred from every respectable race
track in the country.
That's mighty harsh punishment
for a jockey who isn't much more
than a boy" said the old gentleman
who was telling me the story, "but
there Just isn't any other way to
handle a case like this. And be-
sides Meade had had plenty Of
warning. The stewards knew for
some time he wasn't leveling, but
they couldn't catch him"
Suspected for Two Years
The old gentleman surprised your
correspondent by revealing that
Meade had been under suspicion for
nearly two years, that following a
tip from a New York racing Off
cial, Col. Bradley, always a stout
admirer of the swashbuckling
Meade, reluctantly had him tailed
Nothing came of this beyond the
disclosure that Meade was in debt
to one of the local books to the
extent of $500.
What finally tripped Meade up"
continued the old gentleman, twas
his ego. He considered himself
very smart person and he was con-
temptuous of the stewards. After
promising he wouldn't bet at all in
Florida, he started betting imme-
diately. That's when the stewards
decided to tap his telephone. What
they found out was plenty, and
don't let anybody try to tell you
different"
But what about those two horses,
Race Craft and Red Badge?'
"Oh, yes. You see, here's how
Meade would operate. If he was
up on the favorite in a race he
would bet on the second choice.
Now 1t doesn't always follow that
even when the favorite isn't trying
the second choice will win, but the
percentage argues in favor of such
a result. This was the percentage
Meade was playing, plus the longer
odds that are quoted against the
second choice.
Makes Stupid Mistake
'"The first time Meade rode Red
Badge the Bubbling Over mare was
the favorite. Meade brought her
in last. I don't know whether
Meade bet on the winner in that
race or not. The trainer was flu
rious. He could see with his expert
eye Red Badge had been given a
bad ride, so he complained to the
stewards, not knowing that the
stewards were watching intently
every move Meade made on the
track-not to mention listening to
every word he uttered into his tele-
phone at home.
We'll. they told this trainer
Hamilton, believe it was-to put
Meade up on Red Badge again the
next time he ran and they would
watch him more closely. The
trainer did so and this time the
mare, now long shot at Is to /,
won off by herself. I happen to
know that Meade bet 5000 on her
in this race, because he bet it
through his agent.
This in itself was virtually
enough to convict him in the eyes
of any knowing horseman-I mean.
betting 5000 on thing to win that
had run last a few days before.
And in practically the same
breath he hangs himself and ceases
for all time to be the star jockey
of the American turf. Phoning to a
mysterious Ernie a gambler in
Newark. N. j., Meade says. Bet me
$500 on Move Faster In the same
race Meade is riding this Race
Craft we are talking about and he
is the favorite. Race Craft finishes
seventh. Move Faster, the second
choice, wins. And that, young man,
is the story of why Don Meade was
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