Paul Harvey - Ralph Neves - Harold's Old Time Radio

Summary4 min read

Harold's Old Time Radio Episode: Paul Harvey - Ralph Neves Release Date: April 17, 2025

Introduction

In this captivating episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, host Paul Harvey delves into the extraordinary true story of Ralph Neves, an 18-year-old jockey whose miraculous survival from a near-death experience would etch his name into the annals of racing history. Set against the backdrop of the 1930s, this narrative weaves together elements of tragedy, resilience, and fate, showcasing the indomitable human spirit.

The Fateful Day: May 8, 1936

Paul Harvey begins by setting the scene on May 8, 1936, at Bay Meadows Racetrack in San Mateo, California. Ralph Neves, a young and promising jockey, was competing in his fourth race of the day. As the race intensified, tragedy struck:

"Ralph's mount stumbled. Five horses came down in a jam up. Ralph had been catapulted into the air."
[00:45]

The chaos of the race resulted in Ralph being thrown from his horse, collapsing face down on the track. The initial aftermath was grim:

"Ralph had been pronounced dead even before the stretcher arrived."
[02:10]

Despite his apparent demise, fate had other plans for Ralph.

The Unexpected Turnaround

Upon witnessing the accident, Ralph's friend, Dr. Horace Wald, rushed to the scene. Defying the grim prognosis, Dr. Wald's expertise led to a startling discovery:

"He gazed at Ralph Neves for a rather long time. Then suddenly, inexplicably, he was compelled to reach out and touch the jockey's neck. You know, just feel the carotid for a pulse. There was one. It was. It was. It was a faint pulse, but it was a pulse."
[02:50]

Realizing that Ralph was not truly dead, Dr. Wald administered a critical intervention:

"A single shot of adrenaline brought Ralph bolt upright in the slab."
[03:10]

This miraculous revival set the stage for an unprecedented journey of survival and determination.

Ralph's Miraculous Escape

Despite being in a morbid setting—the basement of Crosby's Mortuary—Ralph regained consciousness and exhibited remarkable resilience. Still dressed only in his pants and one boot, Ralph fled the mortuary:

"Ralph ran two miles to San Mateo. He ran two miles."
[03:25]

His relentless spirit drove him to seek help, culminating in a dramatic return to the racetrack where the incident occurred:

"Still wearing only his pants and one boot, he ran into the grandstand. Somebody cried, there's Ralph Nevis, the dead jockey. And there were screams. And the crowd started charging him."
[03:50]

Ralph's defiance in the face of panic and adversity highlighted his unwavering determination to return to what he loved most—horse racing.

Recovery and Legacy

The following day, May 9th, marked Ralph's triumphant return to the racetrack. His story of survival and perseverance resonated deeply within the racing community:

"Next day, May 9th. Next day, Ralph's back in the saddle. He's back on the track, and he's racing."
[04:10]

Ralph continued to race until his retirement 28 years later, amassing an impressive 3,772 first-place finishes, securing his position as the 23rd winningest jockey of all time. His legacy is a testament to overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds:

"In order to make that record, Ralph had to come back from the grave."
[04:20]

Dr. Wald, reflecting on the incident, offered his professional perspective:

"Decided then that it was a profound depression of the nervous system. That's what had made it seem that Ralph Nevis had died."
[04:15]

Conclusion

Paul Harvey's recounting of Ralph Neves' incredible journey serves as an inspiring narrative about resilience, hope, and the power of the human spirit. Ralph's story transcends the world of horse racing, offering a profound lesson on the importance of never giving up, even when the odds seem stacked against you. As Ralph Neves' name continues to shine in the Racing Hall of Fame, his legacy remains a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.

Notable Quotes

Dr. Horace Wald on Realizing Ralph's Pulse:

"There was one. It was. It was. It was a faint pulse, but it was a pulse."
[02:50]
Narration of Ralph's Escape:

"He ran two miles to San Mateo. He ran two miles."
[03:25]
Reflection on Ralph's Legacy:

"In order to make that record, Ralph had to come back from the grave."
[04:20]

This episode not only highlights a remarkable true story but also underscores the timeless allure of radio storytelling, reminiscent of the Golden Age of Radio. Through Paul Harvey's engaging narration, listeners are transported back to a time when such tales captivated families around the radio, fostering a shared sense of wonder and community.

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Transcript5 lines

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No purchase necessary. BTWOhioited by law. See terms and conditions 18 + it is May 8th of 1936 and you are alone in the basement of Crosby's Mortuary. Crosby's Mortuary is near Burlingame, California. Well, now, wait a minute. You're not quite alone. Because on a slab awaiting preparations for funeral and burial is a body with an identification tag on one of its toes. Body of a young man named Ralph Nevis. N E V E S Ralph's wearing his britches and one boot and that's it. It's as though he had just been dumped there quickly, carelessly. In fact, that's what had happened. Ralph Nevis was an 18 year young jockey and on the afternoon of May 8, he had been racing at Bay Meadows in San Mateo. And it happened in the fourth race and he's running fourth. Thundering into a fast turn on the back stretch, Ralph's mount stumbled. Five horses came down in a jam up. Ralph had been catapulted into the air. And when the trampling hoofs were silent and the dust had settled, there's Ralph lying face down on the track, motionless. The three doctors rushed to the scene as thousands of spectators murmured anxiously. Jackie Nevis was pronounced dead even before the stretcher arrived. Minutes later, his body's placed in an ambulance and driven to nearby hospital. The hospital didn't even want Ralph Nevis. Don't waste our time, the ambulance driver was told. Take him straight to Crosby's Mortuary. Now you know how Ralph Nevis wound up in Crosby's basement with nothing on but his pants and one boot. The ambulance driver just deposited him and left. When Ralph's friend Horace Wald heard what had happened, he hurried over to the mortuary. And at first the mortician was reticent to allow Horace to see Ralph. But then Horace explained that he was a doctor and he was used to such things. Lucky for Ralph that Horace was a physician. Because when Dr. Wald was taken downstairs, he gazed at Ralph Nevis for a rather long time. Then suddenly, inexplicably, he was compelled to reach out and touch the jockey's neck. You know, just feel the carotid for a pulse. There was one. It was. It was. It was a faint pulse, but it was a pulse. Dr. Wall ran out to his car. He returned with his little black bag. A single shot of adrenaline brought Ralph bolt upright in the slab. And before Dr. Wall could say a word, the jockey had fled the mortuary in panic. Ralph ran two miles to San Mateo. He ran two miles. Then he hailed a cab. Still frightened and confused, he demanded, take me to Bay Meadows racetrack. The driver took him to Bay Meadows. And before the cab had stopped at the curb, Ralph had jumped out. Still wearing only his pants and one boot, he ran into the grandstand. Somebody cried, there's Ralph Nevis, the dead jockey. And there were screams. And the crowd started charging him. And Ralph kept running. He didn't stop until he dropped from exhaustion. Next day, May 9th. Next day, Ralph's back in the saddle. He's back on the track, and he's racing. He continued to ride until he retired 28 years later. One of the doctors who had pronounced him dead just shook his head. Decided then that it was a. What do you call it? A profound depression of the nervous system. That's what had made it seem that Ralph Nevis had died. The only reason I'm bringing this to your attention at all is that one of these days you're going to be reading a roster of the Racing hall of Famers, and you're going to see the name of Ralph Nevis. Oh, it's there. You bet. 3772 first place finishes. The 23rd winningest jockey of all time. And when you see that, you're going to know that in order to make that record, Ralph had to come back from the grave. Because now you know the rest of the story.
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