A LITTLE OFF WHEN GAMBLING

Life was a joy for me when I was young. After a 4th grader whipped my butt when I was 7 years old, my dad beat my butt when I returned home from school for losing that fight! Geeesh! 

He was in the ice and cold business, back in the 1930's- when there wasn't any refrigerators. He met this Chinese elder, whose son taught Wing Chun Kung Fu. So, one afternoon, after work- he brought me to this 'son' and he began teaching me this ancient art of Kung Fu. 

By the time I was 11 years old, I was a 1st Degree Black and the kid that had whipped my butt wanted a piece of me once again. Now I was taught never to use Kung Fu as an offensive weapon. So, this second fight lasted less than a minute! This kid was on the ground wincing in pain. I found out later that I had broken two of his ribs and one bone in his throat. He never even looked at me again. The last time that I taught was in 2015. I do have nine, 8th Degree Blacks under me, all women! 122 Black Degrees in total. Learning the 'Center Line Theory' while protecting your center line of your body. Staying relaxed (as you should in life), using as little movement and energy as possible (just like with thoroughbred racehorses). I teach Tai Chi (ancient exercising) along with Wing Chun Kung Fu. Honing your reflexes, while in the many fighting strategies. 

Always REMEMBER: Overcome FEAR with FORTITUDE and HESITATION KILLS the

Thought Process!! Every time!!! 

My brother-in-law Johnnie, married to my sister Angie in 1952- started bringing me to the racetracks. Washington Park was the first racetrack that I attended in person. My second time that I went, I learned a lesson from Johnnie (my new-found pal). He used to tell me when a racehorse's tail is up in the air- run to the window and bet as much as you can! I followed the same pattern at Sportsman's Park, Maywood Park, Balmoral Park and at Hawthorne Racecourse!

So, I can recall, it was the 5th Race that Friday night in 1957- the harness horses were on the racetrack and I was looking for that special horse to bet on. He would make the wager for me. There was the #2 horse (12-1 odds). He was standing still, taking a dump. And right after that, Johnnie and me ran to the betting windows (no O.T.B.'s back then) and I bet $2.00 to win on this horse, the #2. Johnnie wanted to know why I chose him, this 5 year old pacer. So, I told him about what he said. After taking a #2, the #2's tail was slightly up! 

The race went off and he went straight for the lead and never had a challenge! He won and I collected (Johnnie did) $27.00 for my troubles of following his instruction. That was my first experience in winning a race through gambling. I was 9 years old.

One never gambles, unless ALL of your bills are paid in full and your partner accepts your gambling. We will go over GAMBLING and the problems it can cause in a partnership or even if you are single. GAMBLING keeps this racing industry afloat. I will also discuss this in a classroom setting. Keep focused on what I say. I've seen people ruin their life (and others), because of continuous losing in GAMBLING!  

The photo up above was taken before a combat mission in November of 1966, while I was with Marine Force Recon in DaNang, South Vietnam. The Marine to the left of me (glasses on), right on the photo- is Norman. My dear friend passed away in 2021. I miss him. I went on 101 combat missions while serving in 'Nam from August of 1966 through to February of 1968. He had gone on 113 combat missions, getting to 'Nam in October of 1966. I took 1,552 photos while serving during the Vietnam War- many have been stolen by ruthless companies and then they had the gull to place their name on them (I have the originals) and I took notes on each of my 101 combat missions. Many of the photos about this war online are MINE! Either I placed them up or they are stolen. 

I was wounded twice, Norman three times. We went on 93 missions together while there and also took a scuba diving course together at Subic Bay in the Philippines. 

I was discharged from the Marines in 1970. Norman in 1971. We were friends for more than 50 years, as he lived in Illinois also. 

I have written an 'unpublished' book on my life experiences. I really need to finish this. My life where I didn't really write anything in there about my life with racehorses, because there was so much to tell about the rest of my life. "The Truth."

During the 1970's, I taught self defense to women two days a week and worked at various jobs- barber, bus driver and then got into finance in the late 70's. My life was simple. I married, we had two beautiful daughters- one in 1979 and the other in 1980. 

At the end of 1983, I was divorced after going through a terrible bout of P.T.S.D. from 1979 through to mid 1981. That took a toll on the entire family and those flashbacks kept coming up until late 1982. 

After my divorce, in 1984- my friend Jeffrey wanted me to come out to Las Vegas and be his partner in business. His mom and dad were hit by a train and he inherited a fortune! Over $700 million dollars. 

So, in May of 1985 I left my Arlington Heights condo (which I still kept) for Las Vegas. Those were the fabulous years. Almost every week, I would fly from Las Vegas to Chicago to be with my two daughters. When they were little, I would take them to lunch or a dinner- to the movies, playgrounds- wherever there was fun! 

This Las Vegas-Chicago experience lasted until one Tuesday morning, when Jeffrey was hit by a Las Vegas taxicab! I was told that he flew up in the air and landed directly on his head, breaking his neck. He was in a coma until that Friday- when he passed away. From that point forward, I located his only living relative- a cousin in Winnipeg, Canada. She inherited his fortune (almost $1 billion dollars) at 29 years old.

As you have read, we all owned racehorses- thoroughbreds and standardbreds (harness horses) and my life was pleasant until I met my friend Arless (Alex) in late 1995 and borrowed him that $50,000. Never knowing he was into cocaine (snorting it and selling it!)

Papa D (D Recon) has built this entire website, created and wrote all of the entire webpages within. The contents are from over 40+ years of being in this industry! 

The rest of the story is within these chapters.. 

At this time, I will answer any questions that you all may have. I will be open about any point during my life. My life on this website is an open book, I am Papa D! Who loves kids!!