Wednesday, April 12, 2017
I MET DUKE SOMETIME AROUND 1970, PRIOR TO HIS BEING MARRIED. HE WAS A HORSEMAN WHO HAD BEEN LAST RACING AT THE HAMBURG OVAL WHERE HE GOT A TRAFFIC TICKET, BUT CHOSE NOT TO GO TO COURT. I WAS A STATE TROOPER AT THE TIME AND ARRESTED DUKE ON A WARRANT FOR FAILING TO APPEAR IN COURT. I TOOK HIM TO COURT IN HAMBURG WHERE HE PAID A FINE AND ON THE WAY BACK, WE PASSED A FARM STAND WHERE FRESH CORN WAS BEING SOLD. HE ASKED ME TO STOP, I DID & HE BOUGHT A LARGE BURLAP BAG OF CORN.WHEN I TOOK HIM BACK TO THE TIAJUANA MOTEL WHERE HE SHARED A ROOM WITH 4 OR 5 OTHER HORSEMEN,HE INVITED ME TO A COOKOUT THAT HE WAS HAVING THE NEXT DAY. I ACCEPTED WHERE I MET SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE IN THE RACING INDUSTRY. THAT 2 HOUR DRIVE BACK & FORTH TO HAMBURG TURNED INTO A LIFELONG FRIENDSHIP. THERE WASN,T ANYTHING NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THE DUKE. GO IN PEACE MY FRIEND.
