"Geez. Pick a casino, buddy. El Rancho, the Flamingo - the Sands on opening day! At the start, I had money from my trust fund, but my brothers and sisters were able to put a stop to it when everyone at home started to notice. By then I was a pretty familiar face on the strip, and I knew to just set up tabs with the guys in the back office. The sort of guys who don't give you receipts.
"But you got it all wrong about me and Lou," he adds. "He was alright, and was going to set up some kind of deal for the purse money if he cleared it with his boss or whatever back east. Favors or some such, I didn't ask for details, if you want the truth. At the end, neither of us could say no!
"As for the horse, when my family started getting involved with the money, I got a call from a cousin in the old country, with the idea for bringing the horse over. If you want to see him, you can meet me tomorrow at Santa Anita [the track you haven't visited] and watch a workout."
Guys, I'm sorry we've been light on action so far....