ONE

August 4, 1962, Del Mar Race Track, Del Mar, California

My invitation to Del Mar Race Track for the Bing Crosby Handicap came from Dean Martin. Del Mar was founded by Bing Crosby himself in 1937, and every summer the elite showed up there for thoroughbred horse racing by the sea.

Singers like Dino, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Tony Bennett had for years talked about the debt they all owed to Bing Crosby. In fact, in 1950 Dean even recorded a song called ‘If I Could Sing Like Bing.’

In point of fact Dino was the one who was most like Bing. Not only could he sing, but he also shared Bing’s flair for comedy. Frank could be funny in the movies and on stage, but it didn’t come naturally to him like it did for Bing and Dino.

Dean had played Vegas in September of ’62 and wasn’t scheduled to come back to the Sands until ’64. But he called me in July of ’63 and asked me if I wanted to go to the track . . .

‘Gonna be quite a bash,’ he told me on the phone. ‘Bing will be there for the race, and he’s invited Jack Benny and Bob Hope.’

‘He won’t mind if I just show up?’

‘Hey, pally,’ he said, ‘Der Bingle invited me and I invited you. And bring somebody if you want. The more the merrier. It’s supposed to be a party.’

Dean even offered to send me a plane ticket but I told him I preferred to drive.

‘I’d like to bring Jerry Epstein, if that’s all right?’

‘The leg breaker?’ Dino laughed. ‘I thought you’d bring a broad with you.’

‘Jerry’s a big horse player,’ I said. ‘This’d be right up his alley.’

‘Then bring ’im,’ Dean said. ‘Sure, why not? It’ll be great. And pack for a couple of days. I’ll get you rooms in the Hotel Del Mar. That’s where a lot of us will be staying instead of driving home.’

When I hung up with Dean that day I called Jerry and he got excited. The chance to go to Del Mar to watch and bet on the Bing Crosby Handicap with Bing Crosby? The big guy loved it.

So at the end of July, Jerry came to Vegas, we did the town for a couple of days, and then headed for Del Mar in my Caddy. Naturally, he drove.

‘A month ago I never expected to be spending the first weekend in August in Del Mar,’ Jerry said, during the ride.

‘It’s a big deal, huh?’

‘You kiddin’?’ he asked. ‘The two places I’d most wanna be in the summer are either Del Mar or Saratoga. I can’t thank ya enough, Mr G.’

We drove to the Hotel Del Mar, checked into our rooms and had dinner, then Jerry said he had to go to his room to handicap.

‘I don’t wanna embarrass myself tomorrow,’ he said. ‘I gotta pick some winners.’

‘I hope so,’ I told him. ‘I’m gonna be betting your horses.’

When we got to the track the next day, we were immediately shown to the Clubhouse, where Dino welcomed us and made the introductions.

First he introduced us to our host, Bing Crosby, who had his wife of six years, Kathryn Grant, on his arm. It caused a stir in Hollywood when they married, as she had been twenty-three at the time and he fifty-four. But they looked like a happy couple that was very much in love.

‘Thanks for coming,’ Bing said, shaking hands with both of us.

‘It’s a real pleasure, Mr Crosby,’ I said.

‘Bing,’ he said, ‘just call me Bing.’

‘Mr Crosby,’ Jerry said, sounding nervous.

‘You, too, son,’ Bing said. ‘Call me Bing.’

‘Oh, I couldn’t do that,’ Jerry said.

‘Sure you can—’

‘No, he really can’t,’ I said. ‘He still calls me Mr G., and we’ve known each other for years.’

‘Are you two an act?’ Bing asked, laughing. ‘Should Hope and I be worried?’

‘I don’t think you and Mr Hope should worry about anybody,’ Jerry said. ‘You guys are funnier than Abbott and Costello, and they’re my favorite.’

‘High praise, indeed,’ Bing said, his arm around his beautiful wife’s waist. ‘I’ve gotta check a few things, so you boys just mingle, huh?’

‘Thanks, Bing.’

He walked off, looking more like he was dressed for golf than the track, but that was probably just his style. His wife, like many of the women around us, was decked out in an expensive sundress, others in halter-tops, all there to enjoy the sun as well as the horses. Some of them passed close enough for us to smell the ocean on them, indicating they had come to the track right from the beach.

Jack Benny was next, with his wife Mary; then we met Bing’s partner in Del Mar, Pat O’Brien. There were others, friends of Bing’s and O’Brien’s, not Hollywood types, all of whom were very nice and very rich.

A spread had been laid out for the guests, which I nibbled at but ‘Jerry made full use of. I stood off to one side with a Bloody Mary in my hand and watched him pile a plate high with cold cuts, potato salad and several other types of salad.

‘He really appreciates a smorgasbord, doesn’t he?’ Dean asked.

‘He has a big appetite, all right.’

‘You got any horses picked out for today?’

‘Jerry’s my guy for that,’ I said. ‘He’s a good handicapper.’

‘Is that so?’ Dean asked. ‘How good?’

‘Real good.’

‘I usually rely on Bing for my tips.’

‘Jerry doesn’t give out tips,’ I said. ‘He just picks winners.’

‘I might give him a try.’

‘Well, he did a lot of his handicapping last night, but as he explained to me on the way here, that’s only half the job. When he’s actually at the track he watches the horses in the paddock.’

‘Sounds like a lot of work,’ Dino said.

‘Why do you think I‘m counting on him to do it?’ I asked. ‘Where’s Frank, by the way?’

‘Bing invited him, but he’s got other obligations.’

‘It’s not because of the, uh, JFK thing, is it?’

‘What? Hell, no. Frank doesn’t hold Bing responsible for that.’

‘Or Jack Kennedy, I notice,’ I said. ‘Just Peter.’

‘Peter, and the rest of the Kennedy family, especially Joe. No, Bing means too much to Frank for him to get mad at. You don’t know what a thrill it was for Frank to work with Bing in High Society. In fact, he’s asked Bing to take the part that Peter was going to play in our new film, Robin and The Seven Hoods. He wishes he could have come, but he couldn’t. Same for Sam and Joey. Other plans. So, lunch?’

‘It’s too early.’

‘It’s almost noon. Almost first post.’

‘I know, but working and living where I do I sometimes eat at odd hours.’

‘Well,’ Dean said, ‘Bing usually leaves this spread out all day.’

‘Good to know.’

‘If Jerry leaves any of it for us.’