San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-01-22
SUCCESS ON THE TRACK.
CAREER OF DIVER BROTHERS, THE
GREAT AMERICAN HORSEMEN.

Beginning Life as Butchers, They Acquired
Love for Racing-Pluck and Nerve
Have Made Them Rich-The Horses That
Have Won $1,000. 900 in Twelve Years.
In 1915 two brothers were engaged in bust
ness in Washington market, this city, as
wholesale butchers. By sobriety and atten-
ton to their calling they had prospered and
were well to do, but scarcely to be termed
wealthy Then unknown outside of a 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.
AN HUMBLE BEGINNING.
Being at the Saratoga races in 1876 they
made their first investment, buying at first
third interest from George Longstaff in the
black colt Rhadamanthus, a son Of imported
bennington and noted even then as sprinter
On the 18th of August he started in their
name for 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 profited by the victory to much
greater extent than the mere value OF the
purse Before the close Of the season
Rhadamanthus won three other races out OF
seven starts, and while he was doing this the
Dryers came into possession Of Galway,
starting him at Jerome Park in October,
when he finished second in a selling
race, a position which he occupied in two
other of his four starts, his winnings alto
gether amounting to but S465. They made
much better bargain in buying the 3year-od
colt Vigil, who had two valuable stake en-
gagements at Baltimore, both Of which he
won. The first was the Dixie stakes, valued
at IS, 600, and the second the Breckenridge,
worth s., 800 more He also won another
race that fall, swelling his earnings to sl5,-
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, $4,000. They came
high, but the end justified the expenditure.
Their total earnings with four horses for
their first year on the turf was II 665
Such was their unpretentious but auspi-
cious beginning. With the exception of the
following year, when their winnings fell off
materially, they have steadily mounted the
adder of success, and since 1880 have dom
mated the American turf.
During twelve years of active campaign
luB Juey nave "Ou up"dIu Vi SAiOOO,ONN III
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, 1888, 1886 and
1887.
They have won more in one year (S2OS, 00O)
than was ever won before
-
1888, 772l than any horse ever earned in a
single year.
In Miss Woodford they have had the most
successful animal i'll 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 Dryers have had the good for
tune to own one or two Of the best horses on
the turf, and as they entered them lib
orally in valuable stakes the returns have
been large. Those which have won upward
of $4,000 each are as follows:
Miss Woodford won 81 races in four years,
worth ....... e. .......................$ 11s,365
Hanover, % races in three years 105,757
George Kinney, 25 races in four years. -. 64G60
Hindoo, % races in two years ............ 62,O75
Luke Blackburn, % races in two years. -. 47,475
Inspector B., l6 races in three years. 49, S2
fremont, Is races in one year.............. A,045
Sir Dixon, races in one year 1910
Kingston, 10 races in two years. 85,2SS
Kingfsh, races in one year .............. 81,64e
Dewdrop, races In one year. ............. H,7s5
Bramble, q races in two years. ........... 1910
Richmond, II races in three years. ........ 1886
Barnes, 9racers in three years ........... $3.50
Bella B., 9 races in one year. 23,2OO
Warfied, 10 races in five years. .......... 22,784
Bessie June, p races in three years. .... 22,505