Colins Ghost

I received an email a few months back from Jim McKenna of Carlsbad, California. He wrote to me about his great-grandfather, Patrick “Pack” McKenna (pictured, circa 1890), a well known New York-based handicapper who started playing the races in the 1880s and became somewhat of a celebrity in racing circles for the remainder of his life. After a number of email exchanges, a phone conversation, and a series of interesting sources kindly sent to me by Jim, I put together this article about his ancestor who, like Pittsburg Phil, is one of the founding fathers of modern horse players.

“Pack” McKenna was described in newspaper accounts as one of the “original handicappers”, “the oldest and most successful of the betting handicappers”, and “the best known handicapper on the American Turf.” According to census records, “Pack” identified himself as a “real estate broker.”

Family lore tells us that McKenna and his brothers did indeed have a real estate business but “Pack” spent most of his adult life at the racetrack. His name appears in newspapers for the first time in relation to his chosen vocation starting in the mid 1890s. By that time, it seems that McKenna had already accumulated a significant bankroll playing the races. As early as 1894, “Cad” Irish, a long time friend of McKenna, was being identified as the “old original handicapper” — a moniker that would eventually be attached to “Pack” as well.

“Coaching to the Races in the 1890s”
Man standing in back row identified as “Uncle Pac”
(Click image to enlarge)

In the 1970s, McKenna’s son wrote a history of his father and offered some insight into how he became such a successful horse player:

“…before 1900 no past performance charts were ever published and solid info was hard to come by. Pack overcame this by having men posted at the start and the finish as well as the quarter poles. From this information the running of the race was reconstructed and he was able to prepare his own charts which were most helpful and permitted him to be successful. The charts were substantially the same as those published in the papers today.”

It is difficult to identify the “inventor” of racing charts but one thing is certain: “Pack” McKenna and his partners in New York were compiling the objective data that we take for granted today and using it to gain a significant advantage at the track in the 1890s and possibly earlier.

The family account has supporting evidence in an article published by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle in 1899. In the article, the author wrote, “The handicappers of the Botay, McKenna, and Irish type made their money 10 years ago when handicapping or ‘doping’, as it was more generally called, was confined to a select few. Then they frequently secured long prices against horses which should have been odds on favorites. Now, almost every patron of a race track carries his dope book, and when a horse wins at a long price it is because his true form has been hidden or the jockey is not a fashionable one.”

In another article written in 1900 also from the Brooklyn Eagle: “Of the betting handicappers, Irish, Botay, and McKenna have been very successful. It is not an unusual occurrence for one of these men to spend several hours doping out a single race.”

["Doping" was a term used to describe handicapping in the 1890s. "Dope" was slang for information into the 20th century.]

Much of the advantages Pack McKenna and his associates gained in the 1890s were lost when other gamblers began to understand the value of objective information in their wagering. The Daily Racing Form began publishing chart books in 1896. By 1900, the New York Evening World and other newspapers had started to publish race charts that included running lines similar to the ones likely being produced by gamblers like McKenna. In 1905, the Daily Racing Form provided past performances for the first time. Much of the “doping” done by a small band of handicappers starting in the 1880s was now being offered to anyone who made a small investment in a Racing Form or daily newspaper.

Even though his advantage as a handicapper lasted no more then 15 years, Pack McKenna spent most of his adult life at the races. His experience gained him a level of notoriety and skill that made him a familiar and successful character on the east coast racing circuit and beyond. For nearly sixty years, until his death in 1939, “Pack” McKenna was a horseplayer.

Image: The well traveled “Pack” in Havana, Cuba. Late 1920s

He lived much of his life in Bay Ridge, New York, in close proximity to the New York tracks, but spent a great deal of time on the road following the races. In 1908, like all those associated with racing in New York, he was effected by the enforcement of the Hart-Agnew Law that banned bookmakers from tracks. In fact, “Pack” McKenna was involved in one of the first arrests under the new law at the Gravesend Racetrack in Coney Island.

The account of the arrest was captured by a New York Times reporter under the headline “Bettors in Check”. The incident occurred between McKenna, who the Times called “one of the oldest and most successful of the betting handicappers, and George Cafferata, identified as a “professional betting man” and former “bookmaker.”

According to the article: “…When McKenna approached [Cafferata] on the lawn and asked what he would lay against Simon Pure in the Steeplechase, Cafferata made answer, ‘Two to one.’ ‘I’ll bet you fifty,’ said McKenna, and Cafferata answered, ‘You’re on.’ Then a policeman placed the surprised Cafferata under arrest for betting in violation of the law.

“‘Hold on,’ exclaimed McKenna to the policeman, ‘if it is wrong, the bet don’t go. It’s off, Cafferata.’ And Cafferata agreed that it was no bet.

“The point was too fine for a sleepy policeman doing extra duty on his day off, and he took Cafferata along. He hesitated a moment when someone suggested that McKenna be arrested, too, for relieving Cafferata from the bet, on the ground that it was the same in purpose as compounding a felony, but the policeman said that was not included in his orders…”

The ban did little to deter “Pack.” It seems he spent a great deal of time in Maryland during the New York ban. He continued to travel with his old pal “Cat” Irish and developed an influential group of acquaintances in the Washington D.C. area that included Clark Griffith, owner of the Washington Senators, and Ed Walsh, a member of the Senators board of directors.

Image: Photograph of “Pack” McKenna with Ed Walsh (from unidentified Maryland newspaper, circa 1930.

In 1916, a dinner was held for McKenna at the Willard Hotel in Washington D.C. to celebrate a perfect 7 for 7 day he had picking winners at Bowie. It was attended by Griffith and Walsh as well as other influential Washingtonians. By that time, his circle of friends included influential men within the business and political worlds, among them Tom Brahany, personal secretary to two U.S. presidents.

In 1919, he wrote an article for the Washington Post about handicapping. The biography accompanying the article included this description: “P.J. (“Pack”) McKenna probably is the best known and the most successful handicapper on the American Turf…He has in his private library a more extensive collection on turf data then perhaps than any other man who goes to the races.”

In 1921, he became such a figure among the New York horse set that an article about the meet at Aqueduct reported his absence from the track: “The many friends of “Pack” McKenna will be glad to learn that he is convalescing nicely in the Brooklyn Hospital from a serious operation…He was one of the original handicappers. His genial personality, his keen insight into racing conditions and his true Americanism gained for him many staunch friends. They have missed him during his illness and will be glad to greet him on his return to the turf.”

Another New York paper, in 1921, falsely reported his death. The article said that McKenna “…called the office of the National Form Sheet to indignantly deny that he was dead. ‘Now I may not be a Man o’ War,’ chuckled good-natured Pat. ‘but I feel as frisky as a two year old. The Lord being willing, I’ll be out at Laurel this afternoon trying to separate the wheat from the chaff.’”

Family history tells us that McKenna lost a significant amount of money in the crash of 1929. Evidence that his investments and income, by that time, were in the “legitimate” arena of stocks, bonds, and real estate (love the irony there!). In spite of this loss, he continued attending the races throughout the 1930s.

To the end, “Pack” maintained his race records in two large steamer trunks that teemed with notes that only a true horse player could appreciate. Even when he could no longer go to the track, his grandson, who was 10 when his grandfather died, remembers him hovering over his notes and charts at the dining room table. He studied and maintained his “dope” until the end.

He died at his daughters home in Douglaston, New York in 1939.

A letter written by a friend from the Hotel Pershing in Miami, after receiving news of McKenna’s death, says a great deal about a life well lived. In the letter to Pack’s daughter, S. Winter wrote: “Every one I meet at the races, and he had more friends than any one I know, speaks of him with loving kindness and regrets his loss. He had such a wonderful disposition and sense of humor….Let it be a consolation to you and all the family to realize the love and respect that all had for him.”

So much for the image of the degenerate horse player — “Pack” McKenna was a class act all the way.

SOURCES, NOTES, AND OBSERVATIONS

I want to thank Jim McKenna for sharing the outstanding research he has done on his great-grandfather. All the images used here are from Jim’s private collection. “Pack” McKenna is an important but forgotten figure in the history of racing — I am thrilled to be able to share his story here. I will post the article “Pack” wrote for the Washington Post and more on the origination of race charts, past performances, and other subjects that I uncovered while researching this piece in future posts. I find the history of playing the races during the era of “Pack” McKenna, Cad Irish, and Pittsburg Phil to be tremendously fascinating.

Obituaries for “Pack” McKenna appeared in:
Binghampton Press, February 6, 1939
The Blood Horse, February 11, 1939
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 1938 (the longest of the obits)
The Morning Telegraph, February 7, 1939
___________________________________

Looking forward to the Fountain of Youth this weekend. I think we have an interesting group of horses on the Derby Trail. At this time last year, I was still hunting for an intriguing horse to follow (and never really found one). This year I have a rooting interest in Larry Jones’ two colts (Old Fashioned and Firesian Fire). Old Fashioned is my hometown horse for 2009 (owned by Delaware’s Rick Porter and ridden by Del Park King Ramon Dominguez). The “hometown angle” (Philly-Delaware) has played well on the Derby Trail the past few years (Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Barbaro, Hard Spun, Eight Belles, and Dominguez rode 2nd place Bluegrass Cat in 2006).

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!

On August 16, 1947, Calumet Farms sent three offspring of their sire Bull Lea to face each other in the Washington Park Futurity in Chicago. Among the two year olds was Citation and a brilliant filly named Bewitch (pictured, right). In a result that received the most attention for the fact that the three Calumet runners ran 1-2-3, the filly beat the mighty Citation, the horse many consider the greatest of all time.

Both Citation and Bewitch entered the race undefeated. Bewitch had won her first seven starts while Citation was perfect in five races. The legitimacy of her victory in Chicago is one that is still questioned to this day — more on that later.

Chicago Tribune race writer, Maurice Shevlin, saw the race like this:

“Ben and Jimmy Jones, directors of the racing destinies of Warren Wright’s Calumet farm, made believers of 29,000 followers of the sport of kings yesterday at Washington Park when they sent Bewitch, Citation, and Free America out to finish in that order in the ninth running of the $78,050 Washington Park Futurity.

“The sensational Bewitch, little brown daughter of Bull Lea-Potheen, virtually coasted to a length victory over Citation, which beat Free America by a head in the six furlong dash which attracted seven other juveniles. Fourth place went to Hal Price Headley’s Pinebloom…

‘…Bewitch’s triumph, in the fast time of 1:10 2/5, was the filly’s eighth straight without a defeat and added $63,150 to her year’s earnings to move her up into second place behind Top Flight; holder of the world’s record for juvenile money earnings. Her total now stands at $206,875 as compared with Top Flight’s $219,000…”

MY COMMENT: Betwitch would fall $6000 short of Top Flight’s juvenile earnings record.

“…Doug Dodson rode the winner and handled her expertly in an early fight for the lead with Norman W. Church’s May Reward. It didn’t last long, however, for as they went out of the back stretch into the far turn, the little filly moved ahead and gradually assumed a four length lead. At the half mile Pinebloom, piloted by Al Snider, made his move and went into second place as May Reward faded. Turning into the stretch, Steve Brooks got Citation in full swing while Free America, with Jackie Westrope up, came swinging out to the center of the track in fourth place.

“As they finished by the grandstand, Bewitch still had a good advantage, but both Citation and Free America were showing more speed – not enough to overtake the game youngster, but plenty to banish all other competition”

Bewitch with Paul Ebelhardt (right), Calumet Farm manager,
Ben Jones, and an unidentified groom
(American Race Horses, 1949)

By early 1948, controversy surrounding the race would lead to questions about the legitimacy of Bewitch’s victory.

In a Chicago Tribune story about her nomination to the Kentucky Derby in March 1948, Shevlin wrote: “Bewitch beat [Citation] in the Washington Park Futurity and Citation that day didn’t seem to be trying as hard as in his other races.” This is one of first indications in contemporary accounts that suggest anything less than an honestly run race. Neither the Associated Press or the Tribune mentioned anything about the effort of the two horses that finished behind Bewitch in their reporting immediately following the race.

The controversy would be reported in great detail by famed racing announcer Phil Georgeff in his excellent book about Citation published in 2003.

According to Georgeff, the three jockeys riding the Calumet trio agreed to split purse money so no one rider would upstage the other. In addition, he wrote that trainer Jimmy Jones gave a “stern order” prior to the race telling his riders, “Whoever is in front in the stretch should be allowed to win the whole thing.”

Steve Brooks, Citation’s rider for the race, told Georgeff, “I never touched Citation [an assertion confirmed by a film of the race] but there was a tremendous explosion under me. It was as if Cy were asleep – and I woke him up! I just chriped to him, let loose the reins ever so slightly and he came alive like a wild horse. He scared the hell out of me! He started picking up Bewitch with every stride. Remember, I was not supposed to beat her. That was our deal.”

But, of course, evidence exists that contradicts these accounts.

Bewitch’s jockey Doug Dodson said, “Bewitch won the race with such authority, she could’ve won by any margin I wanted. She was just coasting at the end.” Jack Drees who called the race on local radio told Georgeff that her victory was an “extraordinary display of speed and class…she could have won by fifteen lengths if Dodson let her.” The Daily Racing Form comment “ridden out” and the Tribune article saying she “coasted” to victory seems to confirm that the race was legitimate.

Nearly sixty years later, the truth remains elusive. Considering what Citation did as a three-year-old, it would make sense for his fans to carry on the story about his loss to Bewitch. Phil Georgeff’s book is outstanding but his unwavering love of Cy and his belief that he is the greatest in modern history makes his take on the race less than objective.

Whatever the truth may be, Bewitch was beaten by Citation two months later in the Belmont Futurity — the first loss of Bewitch’s career. Calumet announced after the race that Bewitch had an injured ankle. As the only filly nominated to the Kentucky Derby, she won her first race at three in the Ashland at Keeneland but bucked her shins and missed the First Saturday in May. After winning her first nine starts she would win 11 out of next 46 races.

In 1951, during her final racing season, she faced Citation in California and ran second to the Triple Crown winner twice. Both horses, by this time, had lost quite a bit of the brilliance they showed at two and three. Bewitch raced against the boys twelve times during her less then stellar final season (two wins from fifteen starts.) During the same period, Citation won three of seven including his final race in the Hollywood Gold Cup (pictured below). In an era, when horses a retired too soon, it is amazing to think that these two great horses were still racing four years after their dominant early years.

In the ‘51 Gold Cup, the same race that Citation became the first horse to amass over one million in earnings, Bewitch ran second and passed the great Gallorrette as the richest of her sex. She retired with over $460,000 in earnings.

SOURCES, NOTES, AND OBSERVATIONS

“Calumet Sweeps $78,050 Futurity,” Chicago Tribune, August 17, 1947
“Undefeated Bewitch Paces Calumet Trio to Sweep of Washington Park Futurity,” New York Times, August 17, 1947
Maurice Shelvin, “Bewitch Only Filly Named for Kentucky Derby,” Chicago Tribune, March 8, 1948
Photos of Bewitch from American Race Horses, 1949
Photo of Citation and Bewitch in the 1951 Hollywood Gold Cup from American Racing Manual, 1952
Past Performances from DRF’s Champions

Phil Georgeff, Citation: In a Class by Himself, 2003. I have used this book as a source for previous articles and can’t recommend it enough. Excellent account of Citation’s spectacular career.

Bewitch’s Hall of Fame page

For an article on Citation, check out this one by Paul Moran. The design behind the article is beautiful — hope Churchill does something similar again this year.

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!

Another weekend closer to warm weather and the First Saturday in May – I did a little housecleaning on Saturday digging through articles and found an interesting (but tragic) story that I thought I would share.

On the new Animal Planet show Jockeys we learned – with subtlety of a lead pipe to the head – that riding race horses is dangerous. Most accidents occur when riders fall from their mounts but not all unfortunate ends have been the result of a fall according to this story relayed in 1931 by the late, great Shirley Povich:

“The race track is famed in song, story, and the movies for its romance. But it holds a notable place, too, in life’s tragedies. Charles ‘Horses’ Ayres recounts the true story of death riding a horse over the finish line to victory.”

“Belmont Park was the scene on June 4, 1923. Jockey F. Hayes, riding a sterling finish on Sweet Kiss, a famous steeplechaser, was stricken with heart failure as he charged into the stretch in the lead. To the spectators it appeared as if Hayes with victory assured, was hand-riding his mount in the closing stages, slumped as he was over the horse’s neck. Sweet Kiss had hardly crossed the finish line, however, when Hayes toppled from the saddle. All rules were waved by the Jockey Club in this instance, the result being declared official without the customary formality of weighing in.”

The New York Times reported that Hayes was an apprentice and “…the attack probably [was] brought on by severe training to make weight and the subsequent excitement of riding his first winner.” The 22-year-old jockey was buried in his racing silks three days later.

THOUGHTS ON JOCKEYS PREMIER

I liked the new Animal Planet show. It definitely hooked me and I’ll keep watching but it kills me how “reality” TV tries to enhance drama where drama already exists. The racing sequences, while beautiful in high-def, were ridiculous. Do we really need the music track and incessant number of cuts and odd angles to make the race more exciting? It reminds me of the overdone boxing sequences in The Contender that made a conceptually perfect show totally unwatchable.

Another thing: Was it just me or did Garrett Gomez come off as a cold-blooded killer? Wow! Loved the suit he wears to work — is that a common practice or did he catch wind that the film crew was going to be there?

Overall, I think the show has potential to generate new fans which is a good thing. Problems aside, the behind the scenes stuff was compelling and I learned a thing or two.

I’m interested to see how it how it plays out. I’ll be setting the Tivo next week – the number of commercials was unbelievable.

I enjoyed Dana’s take on the show over at Green But Game. I am also employing her “Chantal Traffic Boost Theory” here:

Image: Chantal Sutherland is reason enough to keep watching Jockeys. Is this proof that nice guys (Mike Smith) sometimes do finish first? (New York Times)

SOURCES, NOTES, AND OBSERVATIONS

“This Morning with Shirley L. Povich,” Washington Post, November 21, 1931

“Jockey dies as he wins his first race,” New York Times, June 5, 1923

“Bury jockey Frank Hayes in his riding silks,” Washington Post, June 8, 1923

I cashed my only bet of the weekend on Cowboy Cal in the Strub. I have been a fan of his since being in attendance for his win in the 2007 Laurel Futurity. His race in the San Pasqual, I thought, was outstanding and was happy to get 3-1 on him Saturday. It would be nice to see the McNair’s have success with the one horse they kept out of the Stonerside sale.

Looking forward to putting together my Run for Roses stable — I have been historically bad with this but will be giving it another go this year. The Thoroughbred Blogger’s Alliance has a league that is open to all who would like to participate. Info about the group is here

Hialeah not dead yet? Go Halsey! When all else fails, sue…it’s the American way!

Thanks for Reading and Good Luck!