The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-07-07

Grammar Raised With Horses, Bettors;
Won SIC, 900 on Dead Heat in Match Race

Charles Riley Grammar grew up
among horses and bettors, but only
by choice and instinct could he
have become such an outstanding
plunger. He was a bookmaker who
would bet and go broke.
Born at Paris, KY, in the heart
Of the Bluegrass, Riley Grammar
was selling programs at racetracks
at ~. At II he was bell-hopping in
the st. Charles hotel, New Orleans
headquarters of turfmen. There
Edward @. Botay, noted bookmaker,
gave the youngster a flying start in
the vocation which was to make him
famous. He hired the youngster
to call races.
This led to Grammar being taken
into partnership by Col. w. E.
Apologize, the pair operating the
first field book in the middle west
with phenomenal success. 1t was
in this relationship that Grammar
acquired the money to go 1t alone
among the big layers. He was a
tremendous layer and player in his
early twenties.
TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
Grammar booked and bet in the
days Of Pittsburgh Phil Smith, but
was that high rollers antithesis in
method Of operations. Pittsburgh
Phil was first to handicap horses
on past performances. Grammar
preferred information. Close to the
McCellans Of Kentucky, he reached
his greatest ascendency when their
stable was cleaning up.
Frail, 5-foot 10, 140-pound Riley
Grammar had the large dreamy
eyes Of the poet. Modest, unaSum.
ing, open-handed, he had the knack
Of making friends. Outside of being
a dapper dresser, he gave no i'm
preston Of young man who would
coolly wager fortune.
II was commonplace for Grammar
to win or lose $4,000 on a race, i'm
portant money in those days.
ADMITTED HE WAS BROKE
No one ever called a race more
skillfully than Grammar. Almost
without fail. he could pick the win
ner at the eighth or sixteenth pole.
He had hand in devising thesrac-
ing chart.
When the immortal Domino met
Byron McClennans Henry of Ma
varre in their memorable match
race at mile and an eighth at
Gravesend, near Coney Island, Sept.
Is, 1894, the celebrated owner and
trainer told Grammar he believed
his horse would prevail.
The odds were II to 20 ON Domino,
but In his eagerness to get down
without making Henry of Navarro
the favorite, Grammar promptly Of
fered to wager 100000 on the colt
at 4 to S.
Come on, dump In your money
-$40,000 to $4,000 against DOM
jno," he shouted from the block.
He managed to get down $4,000
at that price, SO gained $4,000 when
Jockey Fred Taral was caught
asleep on Henry OF Navarro and the
horses ran dead heat.
Grammar won and lost several
fortunes, had more downs than ups.
Tapping out in California, he bor-
rowed 500 from Bookmaker George
Rose. ran 1t into $4,000 during the
afternoon.
There's an honest man" said
Rose. HE could have bet $4,000
on credit. Instead he confessed
he was broke"
But the pace was too fast even
for an iceberg like Grammar. Sup
pressing his excitement told alb
breviated his spectacular career.
tuberculosis forced him west and
he died at Goldfleld where hard
bitten men gave him one of the
most unique and impressive funerals
the sports world has known. The
eulogy, delivered by gambler. an
ex-tnirister, was widely quoted.
Even in death Riley Grammar
was no piker.