Swindle at Belmont--S.I. Cover

[Pace Cap'n]

In the Sports Illustrated issue with all the covers, there is a cover dated Nov. 14, 1977. In large type, it says "Belmont's Bizarre Swindle", with a picture of a horse (#2), and some tickets.

Does anyone know what that's about?

[InsideThePylons-MW]

The old horse switcharoo trick.

[stgeorge]

It was a ringer case involving a couple of South American horses -- Lebon and Cinzano. One was very good, one not so good. The very good one was entered in place of the not so good one. I just checked and if you type the two names in Google a few pages come up, the story should be found in more depth there.

[garyoz]

I think Len Ragozin makes reference to the scandal in the first chapter of his book. Or then again it may have been a different swindle.

garyoz

[Figman]

See paragraphs six, seven, eight & nine in the attached story.


http://tinyurl.com/yfkr

[Pace Cap'n]

Thanks to all for the replies. I just didn't know which scam to associate with the cover.

Figman: Great link. Love the stories about the horse painters and fog hiders. Hate the ones about the computer crooks and jockey bribers.

[LCBaleta]

Do you have this magazine (the Sports Illustrated issue with all the covers, there is a cover dated Nov. 14, 1977. saying "Belmont's Bizarre Swindle", with a picture of a horse (#2), and some tickets).?
Would you be so kind to send me an image of this cover and if possible at a minimum resolution of 200 dpi?
I am from Uruguay and as you probably know the horse on the cover was Cinzano an urugayan champion horse.
Waiting for your answer
Best Regards
Luis Costa Baleta
Lcbaleta@tradinter.com.uy (Lcbaleta@tradinter.com.uy)

Pereira de la luz 1327
11.300 Montevideo
URUGUAY

[Pace Cap'n]

Hello, Luis, and welcome to the board.

Unfortunately, I do not have the magazine in my possession. Or even a good reproduction of the cover.

Here (http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/covers/search) is a link that will lead to the SI web page displaying the cover. Click on "advanced search" and enter the date. Although some covers are offered for sale there, I could not find one for this particular cover.

Also, Amazon has a cofee table book of the fifty years of covers available here (http://www.amazon.com/Sports-Illustrated-50/dp/product-description/1932273492).

I hope this will be of some assistance.

[Zaf]

Ragozin's asscoiate Len Friedman had 2 winning tickets on the Trifecta which paid $29,855.

Z

[skate]

zaf;

well if your 're gonne do it, that sounds like the right path.

i'd have to think, with that price (29,000) not too many were in on the deal.

[KingChas]

The cover is actually a painting.Inside is the actual photo.

[bigmack]

Do you have this magazine

Bid/buy here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/November-14-1977-SI-Belmonts-Bizarre-Swindle_W0QQitemZ4520831589QQihZ002QQcategoryZ280Q QcmdZViewItem

[LCBaleta]

Zaf, would it be possible to get an image of those tickets?

[Zaf]

You would have to ask Len Friedman or Len Ragozin if they have it.

Z

[LCBaleta]

How can I contact them? are you able to send me an e-mail to contact them?

Have you heard about a man named G. Brian Houser who was based in New Hempstead NY?
I read he wrote to Lisa Hillbrand the author of Seabiscuit book offering her the Cinzano/Lebon story.

I have try to contact him via a phone number I've found in the web without success.
Thanks for all

[LCBaleta]

Bigmack, thank you for the tip
I've already bought the issue thanks to you.

[Zaf]

You may be able to contact them through their web site.

http://www.thesheets.com/

Z