Blackmailed Silly Billies

J Edger Gooner

Well who is in these very high positions? Someone like Lyndon Johnson? He and Israel had alot to gain after the assassination. Hoover visited the Del Mar racetrack. He was known to frequent the track for relaxation and was described as a regular attendee, often placing bets through companions, including FBI agents, to avoid being seen making large wagers himself. He even brought his lover, Clyde Tolsen with him. He was Lansky’s insurance when Lansky blackmailed Hoover. Clyde was given Hoover’s entire estate!

Hoover was very successful in his bets. While he claimed to make only small $2 bets, insiders revealed that he often placed larger wagers, up to $200 per race, through intermediaries like FBI agents. There is no detailed record of his overall winnings, but his betting habits suggest he was well-informed and occasionally tipped on likely winners. Funny, because the mafia was prevalent at the Del Mar racetrack, particularly during its early decades. Figures such as Jimmy “The Weasel” Fratianno, Mickey Cohen, and other organized crime members frequented the track in the 1950s, using it as a gathering spot. Law enforcement monitored their activities closely, as mobsters from Los Angeles and beyond were often seen there. Some individuals involved in managing the track, like liquor distributor Al Hart, had alleged ties to the Chicago mob. Certain races were reportedly fixed under the control of Clint Murchison and Sid Richardson.

A who’s who of organized crime. What was the FBI director doing at a Mafia ran racetrack and getting massive wins on insider tips there? Isn’t he suppose to be going after these criminals? 

There is an account suggesting that James Angleton instructed Gordon Novel to inform J. Edgar Hoover that he had seen compromising photos of Hoover and Clyde Tolson. According to Novel, Angleton showed him the photos in 1967 and claimed they were authentic. (pages 280-281) Novel later approached Hoover at the Mayflower Hotel, where he mentioned the photos, causing Tolson to react visibly. This incident was reportedly intended to demonstrate that Hoover was not untouchable and that the CIA had leverage over him.