The season before Plunger Walton went to Europe - he couldn't show his face at Saratoga.
The fact that so many bookmakers went running to the press with stories about what kind of scoundrel he was - I think that is pretty telling proof that he did in fact CRUSH them.
If you believe the bookmakers - the racing officals at Saratoga would have had Plunger Walton killed if he showed up there...
More bookmaker accusations to the press:
A well known gambler defending Walton before his collapse: