Trust me on this.

I have a surefire way to bet on the Kentucky Derby and win! It’s a tip I got from a famous jockey/trainer with over 2,000 races under his belt.

The back story:

Jack Bradley grew up in a house almost next door to Belmont Park. Falling in love with horse racing as a boy, Jack took his first job as a jockey at age 15. Among his notable mounts was not on a track but on a movie set. As one of the jockeys in the movie National Velvet, Jack got to meet Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney. He was proud of that!

After a stint in the Marine Corps, Jack became a very successful trainer. His career took him to race tracks all over the country but his main base of operation was at Belmont. In 2000, Jack and his wife Sue retired to Florida. After Sue’s death, Jack moved to Tellico Village, Tennessee where he became a member of our church. Jack richly enjoyed regaling many of us with stories about his illustrious career in horse racing.

So:

A few years ago, our daughter invited my wife Sandy to visit Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Kentucky. Sandy had never been to a track before and didn’t know the first thing about horse racing or betting. Then she came up with a great idea:

Ask Jack which horse to bet on!

So at church the Next Sunday, she found Jack and excitedly told him about her upcoming trip to Keeneland. Sandy explained that she knew nothing about the sport and wondered if Jack could give her a tip.

“Sure!” Jack smiled. “I’ll give you a surefire tip.”

Then he whispered, “Bet on the jockey with the white pants.”

When Sandy shared that tip with friends who know something about horse racing they all had a good laugh.

But do you know what?

The horse ridden by the jockey wearing white pants won!!

So that’s the tip I’m sharing with you for this year’s Kentucky Derby.

And when you win, I hope you’ll look heavenward for a second and say, “Thanks, Jack!”

_____

Obituary

John “Jack” Bradley, age 83, formerly of Elmont, N.Y. passed away on July 21, 2013. Growing up near Belmont Race Track, thoroughbred horse racing was in his blood. He became a jockey at the age of 15 years old. He joined the United States Marine Corp. and served in Korea. Upon his discharge he immediately returned to his first love, the race track. After working his way up the ladder, Jack, became a successful Race Horse Trainer in New York, Florida, Maryland, Louisiana and Illinois. During his career he won over 2000 races and loved going to the track every day, 365 days a year. This was his passion, a way of life, not, a “job.” His family moved over 18 times in 6 years until his children started Jr. High School. Jack’s stable was based out of Belmont Park Race Track in N.Y. Reluctantly, Jack and his wife, Sue, retired to Vero Beach, Florida in 2000. Jack would say, “Race trackers do not retire, they die with their boots on.” After his wife of 55 years passed away, Jack moved to The Neighborhood at Tellico Village in Tennessee to be closer to his daughter, Shan and her family. Jack is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Shan and Bob Koehler; son, Kelley Bradley; 4 grandchildren, 4 great grandsons and his brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Catherine Bradley. The family will receive friends from 2 – 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, 2013 at Click Funeral Home & Cremations – Tellico Village Chapel. A Memorial Service will follow at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the Tellico Village Community Church, 130 Chota Center, Loudon, TN 37774.