Edward R. Bradley
| Edward R. Bradley | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 12, 1859 Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | August 15, 1946 Lexington, Kentucky, United States |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Lexington |
| Residence | Lexington Kentucky & Palm Beach, Florida |
| Occupation | Businessman: Casino Operator Racehorse owner/breeder Racetrack owner, Philanthropist |
| Spouse(s) | Agnes Cecilia Curry |
| Parent(s) | none |
| Awards |
Kentucky colonel Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame (1971) |
Colonel Edward Riley Bradley (December 12, 1859 – August 15, 1946) was an American steel mill laborer, gold miner, businessman and philanthropist. As well as a race track proprietor, he was the preeminent owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses in the Southern United States during the first three decades of the 20th Century. Testifying before a United States Senate committee in April 1934, Bradley identified himself as a "speculator, raiser of race horses and gambler." He made the cover of TIME magazine on May 7, 1934. In the year 2000, the Florida Department of State honored him as one of their Great Floridians.
Born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania of Irish descent. His ancestors were from Draperstown, County Londonderry, then in Ireland. At age fourteen, Edward Bradley was working as a roller in a steel mill before heading for Texas in 1874 to work on a ranch. During the Wild West era, legend says that he traveled about, working as a cowboy, a scout for General Nelson A. Miles during the Indian War campaigns, and was a friend of Wyatt Earp and considered Billy the Kid to be bad news.
Whatever the myths may be, Bradley did in fact become successful as a gambler and eventually established a bookmaking partnership that served horse racing bettors at race tracks in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Memphis, Tennessee and in St. Louis, Missouri where he married local girl, Agnes Cecilia Curry. He eventually went to Chicago, Illinois where he would own a hotel, and probably a sports betting operation, and maintain business interests for the remainder of his life.
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