The Jockey Club's Wild Ride

For two decades it was a chic hangout for South Florida's most well-to-do. Now it's a money pit with a sordid story to tell.

A A A Comments (2) By Ted B. Kissell Thursday, Dec 11 1997

...continued from page 7

After he was fired from the Jockey Club, Eddie Anton says, he spent several months trying to see if the relationship he had built with the Argentine time-share firm could be parlayed into another development somewhere else; he says he even went to Argentina to meet with Apartour. While on this mission, he failed to appear for his April 14 sentencing hearing; his bail was revoked and a warrant issued for his arrest. U.S. Marshals picked him up in Texas in July, and he was transferred to Miami's Federal Detention Center the same month to await sentencing -- and to face an additional charge for failure to appear.

Anton remains bitter that much of the story of the mortgage-fraud lawsuit brought against him and Hernandez will come down to George's word against his. "Who are you going to believe? This young fucking child-looking kid, or this fucking con artist?" he asks ruefully.

Meanwhile, though members can dock their yachts at the marina or play a couple of sets on the tennis courts, they cannot enjoy a martini or a filet mignon.

And the residents of the the Jockey Club -- especially the older inhabitants of Jockey I who remember the bygone glory days -- don't share the Hermans' dogged optimism. "I don't think anybody will buy it," sighs Jack Waxenberg. "They have nothing to sell. They're selling pie in the sky.

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Nancy Brady 11/12/2011 10:39:00 PM

I live in Ireland now and am planning a Christmas Cruise to So. Florida and the Caribbean. I thought while I was there, I'd look up Walter Troutman, so I googled his name to try to get his new phone number when his obituary came up. OMG, I;m devastated; the tears are flowing as I write this... remembering the amazing times I shared in my early twenties with Walter in Miami and The J.C. It was MAGICAL! I met Walter Troutman in the 70's; charismatic, charming, with a personality that didn't quite fit the surroundings. He was like (forgive me for this), but he was like a farmer displaced. I think that's what drew me to him as it probably did many a folk. At the time I was living in the D.C. area but fell in love with Miami & quickly moved there with my 20 something vision of dreams fulfilled. I became a J.C. Member and enjoyed the lifestyle; the tennis; the Sunday luncheon's out by the marina; the fabulous food and who could forget those Sunday Brunches that Tino put on? Oh my, how utterly fantastic! And, every so often, Walter would walk in with his clothes that looked like they sat in the dryer too long (it was so humbling and yet so warming), but he had this presence about him; he was larger-than-life and he knew it. So often, he would try to get this young girl up to his penthouse to see his "etchings"; he tried and tried and I just kept saying: "Oh Walter" - but we remained good friends until I moved away to the Bay Area; even then, we would talk every so often. I ended up working there as Director of Special Events which I thoroughly and utterly enjoyed. I have never found anything that I loved more in life. I recall one day while I was preparing a Special Event for Celebrities and Walter walked into my office. He said: "I have a date for you". I asked who it was? He said he's famous; his name is Julio Iglesias. I'm not one to swear but I said to him: "Who the hell is Julio Iglesias? Sorry, Walter, but I'm not interested." Walter told me that one day I'd be very sorry. Little did I know that one day Julio would become famous in America. Well, I was ONLY a twenty something; you can forgive me for that, can't you???? Anyway, back to my reason for googling Walter. I was hoping to have lunch with him and remember the good old days at the famous J.C. Yes, it truly WAS MAGICAL and my heart yearns to relive those days... what I wouldn't give to relive those days. To see Walter on his bike riding up the drive. RIP my friend. Nancy Brady, RN (Special Events Director at the Jockey Club many years ago). If there's anyone out there that would like to reconnect, please email me at nancy7711@hotmail.com (I look forward to hearing from you!)

Robert First 10/19/2011 6:05:00 PM

My father lived at the club in the early 70's and as a teenager I had my run of the place. It was magical for sure. I remember the first time I saw a giant yacht in the marina called the Blackhawk, it was owned by the owner of the Chicago Blackhawk hockey team. At the time that was one heck of a "boat". We loved that place. I used to sneak onto the roof with my little sister and once jumped into the rooftop pool. It was fun. Mr Troutman once "borrowed" my brother's 10 speed to check it out. My brother thought someone had just stolen it when the car park explained who it was. We got a good laugh from that. The coolest thing was the way we were always meeting movie stars...and were used to get in trouble playing elevator tag. Oh the good ole days at the Jockey Club. Robert First - guest and former resident with my father Richard First.