Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-18
SUCCESS ON THE TRACK.
CAREER or DWYeR BROTHERS, THE
GREAT AMERICAN HORSEMEN.

Regtnning Life as butchers. They Acquired
1--we for Raciug-PIuck ard Nerve
Have Mads Them Rich Tho Horses That
Have Won 81 900, 900 IN Twelve Years.
In 1876 two brothers were engaged in bust
ness in Washington market, this city, as
wholesale butchers. By sobriety and atten-
tion to their calling they had prospered and
were we'll to do, but scarcely to be termed
wealthy Then unknown outside Of limited
circle their name has since become as a
household word throughout the country
They were the Dwyer brothers, Philip j. and
Michael, of brooklyn
Az HUMBLE BEGIHNISG
Being at the Saratoga race, in 1876 they
made their first investment, buying at first
third interest from George l.OngEtaff in the
black colt RhadaHauthus, a son of imported
bennington and noted even then sprlnter.
On the 18th of August he started iu their
name for u purse of $500, ridden by Barbee,
and won the race, a dash of a mile and fur
long. As they were shrewd and bold
spectators it is safe to assume that the
brothers profted by tue victory to much
greater extent than the mere value of the
purse Before the close of the season
Rhadamant aus won three other races out of
seven starts and while lie was doing this the
Dryers came into possession or Galway,
starting him ut jerome Park in October,
when be finished second in selling
race, Ii position which he occupied in two
other of his four starts, his winnings alto
gether amounting to but S465. They made a
much sbe.ter bargain in buying the 3-year-old
colt Vigil, Who had two valuable stake en-.
P,lti Of yyh ha
won. The first was the Dixie stakes, valued
at Sc, 600, aud the second the Breckenridge,
| worth $500 more He also won another
race that fall, swelling his earnings to SIS,
100. In purchasing Vigil they thus early
demonstrated the pluck which has since made
them famous. for Vigil cost, together with
| the brother to BasSett, S22 900 They came
high, but the end justified the expenditure
| Their tota earnings with four horses for
their first year on the turf was 1865.
Such was .heir unpretentious but auspi-
cious begin ming. With the exception Of the
| following year, when their winnings fell off
materially they have steadily mounted the
| ladder of success, and since 1880 have dom
mated the American turf.
| During Lwelve years of active campaign
| ing they nave won upward of 81 ,00O, 600 in
stakes, purses, matches and handicaps, a
| larger sum than was ever won by any turf
man or confederation of turfmen in this
country.
In that time they have headed the list of
winning owners in 1881, 1882, 1883, 1886 and
| 1887
| They have won more in one year (S20S 600
! than was ever won before.
| With Hanover they earned more money
CsS9, 9,712) than any horse ever earned in a
single year.
In Miss Woodford they have had the most
successful animal in the history of racing on
this continent her aggregate winnings ex-
ceeding those of any other.
| They have won more races in one day than
any other stable, capturing five at Mon
mouth Park during the season of 1885 with
Panique, Richmond, Lulu, Portland and
| Barnes
| STARS OF THE BROOKLYN STABLE.
| In almost every season since they began
racing the Dwyers have had the good for
tune to own one or two of the best horses OH
the turf, and as they entered them lib,
orally in valuable stakes the returns have
been large. Those which have won upward
| of $4,000 each are As follows:
| Miss Wood ord won SO races in four years