The Racetrack Gangs
eBook - ePub

The Racetrack Gangs

Four Decades of Doping, Intimidation and Violent Crime

  1. 224 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

The Racetrack Gangs

Four Decades of Doping, Intimidation and Violent Crime

About this book

"So if you're a fan of Peaky Blinders and want to read the true stories behind those characters and tales . . . this is the book for you." —Britain's Gangland Magazine
Between the two World Wars, there was a dramatic upsurge of violence as rival criminal gangs vied for rich pickings from bookmakers at racetracks throughout England.
With ready access to cash, "bookies" were a magnet for mobsters' blackmailing demands. Refusal to pay resulted in severe punishment. Their justified fears spawned a ready "protection" market.
Conflict between rival gangs were frequent and increasingly violent. Charles "Darby" Sabini with his brothers ran "The Italian Mob" who clashed with Billy Kimber and his Brummagen Hammers.
Uneasy partnerships were formed but seldom lasted. The Sabinis were friendly with the Cortesi family until a rift resulted in one of the Cortesis shooting Harryboy Sabini. Other gangs such as The Titanics and The Nile Mob were ready to fill voids. As well as broken alliances, internal friction and members changing sides resulted in bloodshed on the streets, in pubs and clubs and on the courses. Public order was so threatened that the Flying Squad was tasked with the eradication of the problem and, in 1936, the celebrated Battle of Lewes Racecourse brought matters to a bloody conclusion.
This well researched and gripping account describes the vicious dramas played out in the 1920s and 1930s.

Information

Publisher
Pen & Sword True Crime
Year
2020
eBook ISBN
9781526778734
Print ISBN
9781526778727
Subtopic
Modern British History

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. About the Author
  6. Acknowledgements
  7. Introduction
  8. Chapter 1 The Sport of Kings
  9. Chapter 2 The Main Contenders
  10. Chapter 3 Enter the Flying Squad
  11. Chapter 4 A Case of Mistaken Identity
  12. Chapter 5 Slashings and Shootings
  13. Chapter 6 Blackmail and Intimidation
  14. Chapter 7 Gunfight at the Fratellanza
  15. Chapter 8 The Misadventures of Alf White
  16. Chapter 9 When Nothing’s Quite Like It Seems
  17. Chapter 10 Death at the Eden Social Club
  18. Chapter 11 Widespread Gang Warfare
  19. Chapter 12 Questions in Parliament
  20. Chapter 13 Preventative Measures
  21. Chapter 14 Alf Solomon Needs Help
  22. Chapter 15 A Cowardly Attack
  23. Chapter 16 Dirty Work at Croydon
  24. Chapter 17 Death between Friends
  25. Chapter 18 The Battle of Lewes Racetrack
  26. Chapter 19 Downfall of the Sabinis
  27. Chapter 20 Demise of the ’Tecs
  28. Chapter 21 Death and Resurrection
  29. Chapter 22 Jack Spot and Billy Hill
  30. Chapter 23 The Francasal Affair
  31. Chapter 24 The Dopers
  32. Chapter 25 ‘A Beautiful French Blonde’
  33. Chapter 26 Intimidation and Retribution
  34. Chapter 27 The Fall and Rise of Dimes
  35. Chapter 28 Dimes Triumphant?
  36. Chapter 29 A Question of Murder
  37. Epilogue
  38. Bibliography
  39. Plate section

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