Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Col. E. R. Bradley
1859 - 1946
Photographed By Ken Smith, July 12, 2012
1. Col. E. R. Bradley Marker
Inscription.
Col. E. R. Bradley. The activities of Col. E. R. Bradley ranged from operating Palm Beach's Beach Club casino to staging charity race days for orphans. A product of a burgeoning nation in the 19th century, Bradley worked in steel mills in Pittsburgh as a youngster, then roamed the nation as a cowboy, prospector and miner. By the time he testified before Huey long in a Senate hearing in 1934, Bradley proclaimed, "I an a speculator, race horse breeder and gambler." Asked what he gambled in, he replied "Almost anything." , When Col. Bradley's attention turned to horse racing, his first good horse was named, ironically, Bad News and Bradley thereafter made a practice of naming his horses with names beginning with the letter B. The Kentucky Derby was central to his ambitions in racing. He developed Idle Hour Stock Farm outside Lexington and won four runnings of the Derby, with Behave Yourself (1921), Bubbling Over (1926), Burgoo King (1932) and Broker's Tip (1933). Bradley also imported the foundation mare La Troienne from France. He died in 1946 and the split of his breeding stock nurtured years of success for Greentree Stable, King Ranch and the Phipps family.
The activities of Col. E. R. Bradley ranged from operating Palm Beach's Beach Club casino to staging charity race days for orphans. A product of a burgeoning nation in the 19th century, Bradley worked in steel mills in Pittsburgh as a youngster, then roamed the nation as a cowboy, prospector and miner. By the time he testified before Huey long in a Senate hearing in 1934, Bradley proclaimed, "I an a speculator, race horse breeder and gambler." Asked what he gambled in, he replied "Almost anything."
When Col. Bradley's attention turned to horse racing, his first good horse was named, ironically, Bad News and Bradley thereafter made a practice of naming his horses with names beginning with the letter B. The Kentucky Derby was central to his ambitions in racing. He developed Idle Hour Stock Farm outside Lexington and won four runnings of the Derby, with Behave Yourself (1921), Bubbling Over (1926), Burgoo King (1932) and Broker's Tip (1933). Bradley also imported the foundation mare La Troienne from France. He died in 1946 and the split of his breeding stock nurtured years of success for Greentree Stable, King Ranch and the Phipps family.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.
Location. 38° 2.499′
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N, 84° 29.431′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 60) and Midland Avenue (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling west. Located in Thoroughbred Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Midland Avenue, Lexington KY 40508, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 565 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 12, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
