SKU: 336899211

The Gambler and the Bug Boy: 1939 Los Angeles and the Untold Story of a Horse Racing Fix

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Description

The Gambler and the Bug Boy: 1939 Los Angeles and the Untold Story of a Horse Racing Fix"Scandal on the Turf " the Los Angeles Times proclaimed. It was October 1940, a mere few months after Seabiscuit had won the Santa Anita Derby, and now this bombshell: "Six Jockeys Admit Horse Races Fixed." The Gambler and the Bug Boy recounts this dark chapter in horse racing history. At its center is Bernard "Big" Mooney, a flashy L. A. bookmaker who began his seedy career by threatening young jockeys with death if they didn't "pull" their horses.

"Scandal on the Turf " the Los Angeles Times proclaimed. It was October 1940, a mere few months after Seabiscuit had won the Santa Anita Derby, and now this bombshell: "Six Jockeys Admit Horse Races Fixed." The Gambler and the Bug Boy recounts this dark chapter in horse racing history. At its center is Bernard "Big" Mooney, a flashy L.A. bookmaker who began his seedy career by threatening young jockeys with death if they didn't "pull" their horses. His unwilling partner is Albert Siler, a callow, eighteen-year-old apprentice rider (a so-called bug boy) from eastern Oregon. John Christgau tells how Big Mooney manipulated this promising rider and how Siler tried to escape the gambler's criminal grip without ruining his career. Christgau's book gives all the harrowing details of the unraveling plot and the botched court case that followed which riveted the attention of the nation. Told in full for the first time, this story brings to light a little-known but important horse racing scandal.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Bison Books
Published: 11/01/2013
ISBN: 9780803271708
Pages: 254
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.20w x 0.70d
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SKU: 336899211

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Verified Purchase
Jackie H
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Great toy
Color: Hambone Super Chewer, Size: M/L
My dog loves this toy so much. He's not quite so aggressive with his chewing, now that he's getting older, but this toy lasted through his younger years, and recently started to show signs of wear. He was so sad when I threw it out, that I had to replace it. Glad it still exists - we got the first one probably 5 years ago.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
shannon
New York, US
★★★★★ 5
Great for heavy chewers
Color: Hambone Super Chewer, Size: M/L
Our dog is a hard core chewer! This toy is very durable. Even the covering has lasted. We assumed we would need to take the cover off right away but it’s still going after 3 months. It’s definitely chew resistant
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
JJ
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 4
Great treat dispenser
Color: Hambone Super Chewer, Size: M/L
Great rubber toy, the outside fabric did not last long, so glad that it is a treat holder/dispenser otherwise it would have been done for in about 10min. The opening for the treats is pretty small so can only fight thinner broken up treats. Great for larger dog that likes to dissect her toys, keeping her entertained longer and no fluff all over the house
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Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2025
B
Verified Purchase
Bethany Messner
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
My dog loves this toy!
Color: Hambone Super Chewer, Size: M/L, Color: Hambone Super Chewer, Size: M/L
My dog LOVES this toy. It is so cute. It was a little smaller than I thought it would be, but it’s actually the perfect size for him. He carries it everywhere with him, and if he happens to have forgotten it, we say “go get your pig” and you can see it click in his head that he forgot it, and he runs to get it. He loves to drop it to make it bounce. He is 9, he used to instantly rip anything to shreds, but he seems to have gotten a little more delicate in his older age and after a few weeks hasn’t gotten through to the harder toy yet. Once this toy bites the dust, we will have to buy him another because of how much he loves his pig.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
Jessica
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 3
Not a Good Choice for Chewers
Color: Get Ripped Margrrrita, Size: L
I loved the idea of this toy, but it did not work or last as intended. It is pretty heavy and made of thick rubber. The flaps over the cup where the treats are dispensed did not last 5 minutes with my pup, so we can no longer use it to dispense treats/use as a brain game.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2026

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