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historical notes
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Self-proclaimed “capitalist,” John Condon, also known as "Blind John," was a racetrack owner, gambler, and art collector. Condon served as president of the Old Harlem Jockey Club, made his fortune in the coal business before becoming a bookmaker and racetrack owner. He held interest in the California Jockey club which operated racetracks in Oakland, CA; New Orleans, LA; Douglas Park, KY; Latonia tracks at Cincinnati; and the Blue Bonnet track, Montreal, Canada. With a business partner, Dan Stewart, built the Oak Lawn track in Hot Sprints, Arkansas.
Condon owned paintings by and attributed to Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Félix Ziem, Ferdinand Victor Léon Roybet, Jean-Jacques Henner, and Mary Edmonia Lewis.
Condon was married to Mary A. née Stanton (1859–1932), and they had two children, Marguerite Marie Condon Wright (1892–) and John Stanton Condon (1893–47).
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