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f ..... .... I Twenty Years of Future Books en KENTUCKY DERBY and the Results j . 1924 The bookmakers of America have never forgotten Black Gold. The horse was well named It was a black day -for the layers when the medium-sized son of Black Toney Useeit won the Kentucky. Derby and it cost them most of the gold they possessed and mortgaged their future earnings. Many were paying off years afterward. Even today there is said to be one layer who still owes money to winners in the, future book of 1924 who is seeking the rightful claimants to the money due them. It is claimed he has spent considerable money advertising for these winners. The stock market crash of 1929 was not more disastrous to the country at large than was Black. Golds Derby victory of 1924 to the bookmakers of America. Black Gold was a horse of "glamour," as they say in the movies. He was owned by Mrs. R. M. Hoots of Oklahoma, the "black gold" country. His dam, Useeit, had been barred from racing when Hoots refused to turn her over to a man who claimed her in a race. Hoots made a deal with E. R. Bradley to mate the mare to Black Toney, the terms for the mating being known only to them. Black Gold was a "winter" star. He opened at 25 to 1 in the futures and became the "peoples choice." They backed him from Podunk to Peoria and points west. He went up to 40 to 1 on March 16 and in the ensuing rush of players to get aboard bookmakers almost lost their lives. Later they lost more than their lives. They lost their shirts! There was much class to the probable Derby field of 1924. Among the Derby candidates were Sarazen and Wise Counsellor, which shared favoritism in the early betting at 6 to 1; St. James, a 15 to 1 chance; Beau Butler, a Bradley horse; Chilhowee, Altawood, Mad Play, King Gorin II., Bracadale and Mr. Mutt. Because such horses as Sarazen, Wise Counsellor, St. James and Mad Play remained possible starters right up to the end of April, the layers were not unduly alarmed by the preponderance of Black Gold money. They figured he was just "another winter horse" and felt sure that Sarazen, Wise Counsellor, St. James or any of the others could take him in stride. Unfortunately for the layers, not a single one of the last named trio made the race and on May 2 St. James, which hung on longer than the others, was a 5 to 1 choice, Black Gold becoming second choice at around 12 to 1. The Derby itself was a confusing sort of affair. The judges were slightly bewildered when a stirring finish developed and they failed to distinguish between the green and white colors of the Rancocas Stable and E. R. Bradley, carried by Beau Butler and Bracadale. The places involved were third and fifth. Black Gold beat Chilhowee in a great race, with Eeau Butler third, Altawood fourth, Bracadale fifth and Transmute sixth. It was a big field, nineteen horses starting. Black Gold was a heavy favorite in the mutuel pool and paid only 175 to 100. He went on to numerous other triumphs in Derbys and his end was a tragic one. As a matter of fact, Black Golds history from beginning to untimely end at the New Orleans Fair Grounds, where he finished a race on three legs and then was destroyed, reads more like a novel than the everyday life saga of the usual brilliant race horse. It was a life in which confusion, broken hearts and pocketbooks ended in tragedy. March March March April April April May Finish of Derby 13 18 , 24 5 17 30 2 Starting Odds Odds ; Odds Odds Odds Odds Odds Odds Black Gold 25 40 20 12 12 12 ... $ 1.75 to 1 Chilhowee 50 50 50 ... 40 30 ... 15.25 to 1 Beau Butler 25 20 20 20 20 25 15 J10.25 to 1 Altawood 50 200 50 30 ... 19.10 to 1 Bracadale 40 50 50 40. 40 40 ... 3.40 to 1 Transmute 20 30 30 30 30 ... zlO.25 to 1 Revenue Agent ........40 100 100 ... ... ... ... 28.75 to 1 Thorndale 50 40 60 ... ... ... 20 1 10.70 to 1 Klondvke .50 50 40 40 40 40 ... zlO.25 to 1 Mad Play 15 15 15 15 15 10- . . . 3.40 to 1 King Gorin II 40 50 40 40 ... 40 ... 36.60 to 1 Cannon Shot 200 200 200 50 "... UO-O to 1 Modest 100 100 100 50 1 10.70 to 1 Diogenes ...30 30 20 20 20 - 20 ... U0.70 to 1 Nautical 50 100 40 40 40 25 ... 10.10 to 1 Mr. Mutt ... 50 60 30 30 30 30 ... 35.00 to 1 Baffling 50 200 200 ... ... 110.25 to 1 Wild Aster 50 200 200 ... -.v.: " ... ... U0.70 to 1 Bob Tail 40 50 50 50 ... J10.25 to 1 Sarazen 6 6 5 5 6. 5 ... Did not start Wise Counsellor 6 6 6 6 4 4 ... Did not start, St. James.................,... 15 12 .12 12 12 S 5 Did not start Horses are listed according to finish of xace. tMutuel field. JIdle Hour Stock Farm Stable entry. SRancocas Stable entry. zH. P. Whitney entry.
