Death of the Harlem Tracks Master, Daily Racing Form, 1915-08-10

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DEATH OF THE HARLEM TRACKS MASTER. From cumulative effects of paralysis John Coadna died yesterday at his home in this City. He was born at Crestline. 0., June 1. 1s54. but was taken to Indiana when a child, and grew to manhood at Logans port, in that state, from which circnuislance it was I. is custom to call himself a hoosier. Coining In Chicago late in the seventies or early in the eighties, he soon became a leader in Hie wide o| eu gambling that then prevailed here, not as a gambler of note personally, but as a backer and a reaper of protlts. His tirst connection with racing was when in partnership with George Hankina, Harry Varuell. ••Billy" Weight man and others he took possession of the old West Side Park and calling it tiiirtield Park carried on the sport there on a lavish scale until that disastrous day arrived on which Captain Jim Brown was slain after he had killed policeman Powers. That tragedy led to the instant abandonment of racing at Uarticld Park, but not to Condons loss of intense in the sport on its strictly commercial side. In racing as a sport ha took no interest, and hardly knew the difference between a thoroughbred and a Per-cheroti. But as owner, part owner, or stockholder he was from time to time nbanqnently connected with such racing plants as those at Harlem. Worth, Oaklawn, Ideal Park, New Orleans Fair I rounds. Lakeside, Oakland and Fort Frie. At the time of hU death lie was the reputed sole owner of the Harlem track, a property in which he took great pride. It was a great money-maker for him when racing nourished there and has been kept in good condition since racing ceased here seven years ago. Some of nil racing ventures cost hiin heavily, that at Oaklanu. Hot Springs. Ark., in particular. It was not because of lack of good judgment in making them t. start with, but because adverse legislation or other circumstances enforced the cessation of racing and tha loss of certain profits. The dead man was combative and masterful, but not uncourteous. He was a leader in most of the enterprises with which he was concerned, many of them tiling in strictly legitimate lines of business. Ills name is not one that will soon lie forgotten 111 Chicago. _____________


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1915081001/drf1915081001_1_8
Local Identifier: drf1915081001_1_8
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800