Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
I'm sure that some of you will already know the story but some of you may not.
A fascintaing string of events.
THE FIRST MAJOR GAMBLING FRAUD.
In 1844, the first major gambling fraud occurred during the Epsom Derby. It was a scandalous event with doping, false accusations, devious transfer of ownership, corruption and abuse of power.
The fraud was conceived by Abraham Levi Goodman. He was of Jewish descent. That meant you were discriminated against in Victorian England. Goodman was excluded from many activities. His response was a preference for unfair and later criminal activities. That coupled with his ambition and intelligence made him a dangerous man without scruples.
The popularity of gambling in gambling houses or on the racing track changed regularly. And gambling was always cheated. But during periods when there was less enthusiasm for racing bets, the fraudulent actions on the racetrack increased. They could consist of the use of doping, perjury, corruption and more. It all came together in the Epsom Derby.
CROCKFORD AND GULLY.
William Crockford was the great man of the gambling houses in London. He had worked his way up from being a fishmonger to one of the richest people in England. His opponent was John Gully. He became a butcher's son to a great man of the horse races in England. They regularly met. Because they also liked to gamble themselves and they did that both in the gambling houses around London and on the racetrack. They were rivals. But Crockford and Gully had one thing in common: they managed to hold the nobility together.
A FINAL BIG GUESS
At the beginning of 1844, Crockford had to appear before a government committee that wanted to revise the Gambling Act. He was sick, felt his end approaching and had been aimlessly at home for a while. Frustrated by the investigation and by his physical weakness, he decided to take a big gamble again.
Three days before the Epsom Derby he went to the horse club. There was already a lot of talk about betting. And he saw his rival John Gully, the owner of the horse Ugly Buck. He challenged Gully. His horse could not beat Ratan, the horse of Crockford.
THE STAKES
The stakes were extremely high. From an 8 to 1, it quickly went to 1000 to 1. On May 22, the horses ran the race. Officially the bet was 9 against 4 for Uggly Buck and 5 against 2 for Ratan. But behind the scenes, Gully, Crockford and several friends of the two gentlemen had also bet.
There were 29 horses at the start. It started well. But the horses lost, and with it both Gully and Crockford lost a considerable fortune. Later it turned out that the horses were drugged. Crockford died three days after the race.
RUNNING REIN.
Winner of the race was Running Rein, a horse from Anthony Wood. At a short distance followed the horse Orlando of Colonel Peel, the brother of the then Prime Minister of England Robert Peel. It was immediately clear that something was wrong. A few days before the race, George Bentinck, also a horse owner, had already insisted on research into Running Rein. Now he intensified the pressure on the race management.
However, only the owner of the horse that came in second could object. That happened within an hour of the race. Then the fraud soon came to light. Not Running Rein had run the race, but Maccabaeus, a four-year-old horse.
LAWSUIT.
A Lawsuite against Anthony Wood followed on July 1, 1844. This owner turned out to be innocent. Abraham Levi Goodman was the pivot in the web of conspiracy. He had bought Maccabaeus more than three years earlier. With simple black hair dye the horse looked like Running Rein. Then the doping of the favorite horses, those of Crockford and Gully, fake documents and more.
THE VERDICT.
After hearing all the evidence, the judge wanted to see the horse Running Rein himself. The horse turned out to be gone. The judge then concluded that fraud had been proven. The horse Orlando was designated as the winner. Goodman and his helpers fled to France.
George Bentinck received a reward for his dedication to the business and the equestrian sport. He thereby established a fund for trainers and jockeys. After the trial, several rules were tightened at horse racing. However, we all know that future frauds were not prevented.
A fascintaing string of events.
THE FIRST MAJOR GAMBLING FRAUD.
In 1844, the first major gambling fraud occurred during the Epsom Derby. It was a scandalous event with doping, false accusations, devious transfer of ownership, corruption and abuse of power.
The fraud was conceived by Abraham Levi Goodman. He was of Jewish descent. That meant you were discriminated against in Victorian England. Goodman was excluded from many activities. His response was a preference for unfair and later criminal activities. That coupled with his ambition and intelligence made him a dangerous man without scruples.
The popularity of gambling in gambling houses or on the racing track changed regularly. And gambling was always cheated. But during periods when there was less enthusiasm for racing bets, the fraudulent actions on the racetrack increased. They could consist of the use of doping, perjury, corruption and more. It all came together in the Epsom Derby.
CROCKFORD AND GULLY.
William Crockford was the great man of the gambling houses in London. He had worked his way up from being a fishmonger to one of the richest people in England. His opponent was John Gully. He became a butcher's son to a great man of the horse races in England. They regularly met. Because they also liked to gamble themselves and they did that both in the gambling houses around London and on the racetrack. They were rivals. But Crockford and Gully had one thing in common: they managed to hold the nobility together.
A FINAL BIG GUESS
At the beginning of 1844, Crockford had to appear before a government committee that wanted to revise the Gambling Act. He was sick, felt his end approaching and had been aimlessly at home for a while. Frustrated by the investigation and by his physical weakness, he decided to take a big gamble again.
Three days before the Epsom Derby he went to the horse club. There was already a lot of talk about betting. And he saw his rival John Gully, the owner of the horse Ugly Buck. He challenged Gully. His horse could not beat Ratan, the horse of Crockford.
THE STAKES
The stakes were extremely high. From an 8 to 1, it quickly went to 1000 to 1. On May 22, the horses ran the race. Officially the bet was 9 against 4 for Uggly Buck and 5 against 2 for Ratan. But behind the scenes, Gully, Crockford and several friends of the two gentlemen had also bet.
There were 29 horses at the start. It started well. But the horses lost, and with it both Gully and Crockford lost a considerable fortune. Later it turned out that the horses were drugged. Crockford died three days after the race.
RUNNING REIN.
Winner of the race was Running Rein, a horse from Anthony Wood. At a short distance followed the horse Orlando of Colonel Peel, the brother of the then Prime Minister of England Robert Peel. It was immediately clear that something was wrong. A few days before the race, George Bentinck, also a horse owner, had already insisted on research into Running Rein. Now he intensified the pressure on the race management.
However, only the owner of the horse that came in second could object. That happened within an hour of the race. Then the fraud soon came to light. Not Running Rein had run the race, but Maccabaeus, a four-year-old horse.
LAWSUIT.
A Lawsuite against Anthony Wood followed on July 1, 1844. This owner turned out to be innocent. Abraham Levi Goodman was the pivot in the web of conspiracy. He had bought Maccabaeus more than three years earlier. With simple black hair dye the horse looked like Running Rein. Then the doping of the favorite horses, those of Crockford and Gully, fake documents and more.
THE VERDICT.
After hearing all the evidence, the judge wanted to see the horse Running Rein himself. The horse turned out to be gone. The judge then concluded that fraud had been proven. The horse Orlando was designated as the winner. Goodman and his helpers fled to France.
George Bentinck received a reward for his dedication to the business and the equestrian sport. He thereby established a fund for trainers and jockeys. After the trial, several rules were tightened at horse racing. However, we all know that future frauds were not prevented.
Show More
A few things about Lord George Bentinck. His alliance with Disraeli in opposing the Corn Laws in the 1840's brought about the present day Conservative party. He was a notorious gambler, but tried to clean up gambling, he brought in features in racing which are with us today, i.e. numbers on horses, flag starts etc, and he was at the for front of bringing Goodwood to the status it has in racing today. His ambition was to win the Derby which he never did, he sold all his horses in 1846, one of which Surplice went on to win the Derby in 1848, after which The disconsolate Lord George was discovered in the House of Commons by Disraeli. Lord George, attempting to explain his distress, asked Disraeli if he knew of the importance of the Derby; to which Disraeli replied that it was the ‘blue riband of the turf’, hence the term Blue Riband has stuck for the alternate name of the Derby, He also used to have a race named after him, the Bentinck Stakes ran at Newmarket.
https://thehistoryguide.co.uk/a-few-words-about-lord-george-bentinck/
https://thehistoryguide.co.uk/a-few-words-about-lord-george-bentinck/
Llamedos, just read that article in full, good info, cheers.
Strangely, in light of a theory about what happened to Gorytus, Lord Bentinck had a horse running in that 1844 Derby called Croton Oil.
'Running Rein' probably wasn't the only ringer running in the race. 'Leander' broke a leg during the race and was quickly buried. He was also suspected as being a 4yo, so he was dug up, but his lower jaw was found to be missing.
Gully and Crockford had history together - in 1827, Gully lost £40,000 backing his horse Mameluke to win the St Leger, but Crockford and Robert Ridsdale bribed the starter to see that Gully's horse's chance was lost at the start.
Gully was also a boxing champion. He was due to fight Henry 'Hen' Pearce ('the Game Chicken') for the championship of England in 1807 (Pearce had beaten him 2 years earlier in 64 rounds), but Pearce cried off due to ill health and retired, leaving the title vacant. Gully then fought Bob Gregson ('the Lancashire Giant') twice in 6 months (36 rounds and 24 rounds - the first time both men were so badly beaten no-one was sure who'd won - the 2nd time, Gully won). Gully then retired from boxing, having made his money. (Gregson went on to fight Tom Cribb for the title, but lost).
Gully and Crockford had history together - in 1827, Gully lost £40,000 backing his horse Mameluke to win the St Leger, but Crockford and Robert Ridsdale bribed the starter to see that Gully's horse's chance was lost at the start.
Gully was also a boxing champion. He was due to fight Henry 'Hen' Pearce ('the Game Chicken') for the championship of England in 1807 (Pearce had beaten him 2 years earlier in 64 rounds), but Pearce cried off due to ill health and retired, leaving the title vacant. Gully then fought Bob Gregson ('the Lancashire Giant') twice in 6 months (36 rounds and 24 rounds - the first time both men were so badly beaten no-one was sure who'd won - the 2nd time, Gully won). Gully then retired from boxing, having made his money. (Gregson went on to fight Tom Cribb for the title, but lost).
Great post Ged but I wish I hadn't read it!
I'll explain in a minute, but first the positive. I'm pretty sure that Gully was later the MP for Pontefract, having read about him many moons ago.
Tom Cribb was legend in the bare knuckle era. Lord Rosebery named a horse after him in mid 70s and he was a big favourite of mine. Won a decent handicap and I won a right few bob. Northumberland Plate perhaps? The horse was well named as he was a fighter himself and wouldn't think twice about taking a bite at any horse upsides in a tight finish!
...... the bit from your post that made my stomach churn was the mention of the horse Leander in the 1844 Derby.
In the 70s there was another horse called Leander. Only thing that I remember about him was that he beat me for the ITV 7! I'm pretty sure that it was the last leg, which makes a better story, but memory can play tricks. He started odds on at Newmarket and I still feel the pain suffered that day when Lester fell off leaving the stalls!
Can't remember exact year but early to mid seventies? With the help of my psychiatrist I had managed to forget the entire experience but have now had a relapse reading this thread.
Thanks Ged
I'll explain in a minute, but first the positive. I'm pretty sure that Gully was later the MP for Pontefract, having read about him many moons ago.
Tom Cribb was legend in the bare knuckle era. Lord Rosebery named a horse after him in mid 70s and he was a big favourite of mine. Won a decent handicap and I won a right few bob. Northumberland Plate perhaps? The horse was well named as he was a fighter himself and wouldn't think twice about taking a bite at any horse upsides in a tight finish!
...... the bit from your post that made my stomach churn was the mention of the horse Leander in the 1844 Derby.
In the 70s there was another horse called Leander. Only thing that I remember about him was that he beat me for the ITV 7! I'm pretty sure that it was the last leg, which makes a better story, but memory can play tricks. He started odds on at Newmarket and I still feel the pain suffered that day when Lester fell off leaving the stalls!
Can't remember exact year but early to mid seventies? With the help of my psychiatrist I had managed to forget the entire experience but have now had a relapse reading this thread.
Thanks Ged
Hello mac
yes, I can still see Leander running around with the saddle somewhere it shouldn't have been, either right up the neck, or under its body, so it probably wasn't Lester's fault, unless he dislodged the saddle himself when falling.
yes, I can still see Leander running around with the saddle somewhere it shouldn't have been, either right up the neck, or under its body, so it probably wasn't Lester's fault, unless he dislodged the saddle himself when falling.
Regarding time and place - the race was at Doncaster, immediately preceding Nijinsky's St Leger. He was 30/100 fav in a 4-runner race, and "gave a rodeo impression leaving the stalls", and his saddle slipped, but Piggott was obviously ok to ride in the next race! He was also in the Engelhard colours at the time, trained by Jeremy Tree, but was bought by Bill Marshall for van der Ploeg the following (4yo) season.
mac what a story ;certainly demonstrates the fortitude and strength of character needed to be a punter.
Thanks Ged for the info on the Leander race.
Memory can play tricks on one. It was Doncaster, not Newmarket, as stated. I knew it was a small field and odds on but 30/100
Thanks Posy. When it happened I was very young and if Leander had won, which he probably would have done, it would have been a life changer at the time.
Mind you it makes a better story than saying, "In 1970 I won £23,000 on the ITV 7".
Memory can play tricks on one. It was Doncaster, not Newmarket, as stated. I knew it was a small field and odds on but 30/100
Thanks Posy. When it happened I was very young and if Leander had won, which he probably would have done, it would have been a life changer at the time.
Mind you it makes a better story than saying, "In 1970 I won £23,000 on the ITV 7".
i believe the trainer of running rein denied it was a 4 year old.....said it was more like 5 or 6
Post Your Reply
Please login to post a reply.
Wonder
Instance ID: 13539