The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1946-02-12
SEVEN JOCKS
ADMIT FIX
AT PIMLICO
Nv JOHN I.AN0DON
NlAllNA rvs snaElA writer

AAl&lu ANNN4 N#-ANH WNANNA
Baltimore, Eeh. ia-tup)- -Seven
steelnlechaSe rloerS q trainer, and
q Jockeys agent, awaited 4 decision
from the Maryland racing commits
sion today. which probably win bar
them from the turf for lie u they
are found guilty % "nxing" q race
for a sensational betting coup last
Nov, 50.
An OF the Jockeys admitted COM
plicity IN the deal which also In
volved two unidentified gamblers,
who allegedly placed bets Of more
than 5000 IN order 10 insure the
outcome of the race. The bets
were made for the Jockeys, the
trainer, and the agent ana on the
basis OF the $50 payoff FOR the
winnlng horse. "ManAleS lad"
would have melted them more than
$4,000.
How much more the unidentified
gamblers and others who knew
about the AK" wagered on the race
probably viii never be determined,
bat It was established IN the hear
ing before the commission that the
horse was backed down 10 q price
OF 3 to 5 after being 10 10 IN the
morning line,
Among the jockeys involved was
William owen, the nations leading
sseeplechase rider for the past three
seasons, who was up on Mamie's
Lad.
owen admitted he had accepted
$500 bet. but swore that there
had been no payoff. Mamie's lad.
he said. had figured 10 win the
race anyway because he had beaten
Gala Reign. the horse considered
top opposition, and that Gala
Reign didn't like the distance any
way"
Wrong Horse AlmoSt Wen
A different version was told by
Jockey Francis Passmore, who was
up on Gala Reign and who told the
commission that he and the other
six riders arranged the NIX" He
said that Gala REICH almost won
In spite OF his efforts 10 stop her.
u took her out In front and tried
to get the wind out of her. but ]
/ couldn't do Il so I snapped her
he said. And I think a blind man
could have seen that I pulled tho
/ horse"
Passmore said that a 500 bet
was made for him and that nre
other Jockeys were given $500 bets
( and that 500 was bet for another
( Jockey.
However. Attorney General Will
liam curren listed the bets placed
on the winner as 500 for PaSSmore,
$500 for Jockeys Sidney O'Neill and
Howard Cruz, $500 for Jockeys Riles
and Owen. and 500 for Jockeys
Douglas Banks and Vernon Hatnes
The trainer. John Barry, allegedly
was given a $500 bet but the amount
allegedly bet for the agent, James
Byrne. was not determined.
Baltimore police said Cruz was
the central figure In the liking Of
the race. Cruz. scheduled to appear
at the hearing yesterday, said nc
had consulted his attorney and
would appeal his case without teSt-
flying.
Police described him as the man
who engineered the whole deal"
Two of the jockeys implicated, also
stated that Cruz was the one who
placed their bets for them. How
ever. both state that they did not
receive a payoH.
No PayOff?
On the basis Of the $3.50 winning
price on Mamie's Lad, PaSSmore
would have received 81 1870, includ.
ing the original s700 that was bet
for him. The $500 bets would have
returned $500. the $500 bets a $3.50
payoff and the 500 bets a $3.50
figure
Prior TO the hearing. the nine
persons involved were suspended by
the commission for bribery, con-
spiracy, and fraudulent practices.
Efforts still were being made by
Baltimore police TO run down the
two gamblers. One was described
as a big man named John who
wore a black hat, and the other as
a small. swarthy man.
Jockey O'Neill, in his testimony
said that he, had accepted a bride
TO pull his mount, Danny Deeyer,
but that he was innocent Of any
wrongdoing. at least in my own
mind"
IT accepted the bride because my
horse couldn't win anyway, and ]
figured it would just be money in
the bank" he said.
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