Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-05
A FAMOUS STABLE.
THE CAREERS OF THE DIVER
BROTHERS.
Kings Of the TureSome of
the Famous Horses.
New York Herald


In 1872 two brothers were engaged in
business in Washington Market, this city,
as wholesale butchers. By sobriety and at
tention to their calling they had prospered
and well 10 do, but scarcely to be termed
wealthy. Then unknown outside of lima
tied circle, their name has since become
household word throughout the country.
They were the Dryer Brothers, Philip J.
and Michael, of Brooklyn. Like most men
in their vocation they had fondness for
sport and a5likiDg for fine horse, which
they INDUCED by frequenting the nearby
race courses, and they soon reached the
C inclusion that there was money in own
ing racers if properly managed. That they
are On the turf al. er twelve years experience
would seem TO indicate that they have
found it agreeable and profitable. Being
at the Saratoga races in 1876 they made
their first investment, buying at first
third interest from George LoDgstaff in the
black colt Rhadamanthus, q son of i'm
ported bennington and noted, even then
as a Splinter. Before the close of the sea-
son Rhadamanthus won three other races
out Of seven starts, and while he was doing
this the Dryers came into posses
sion Of Galway, starting him at Jerome
Park in October when he finished second
in selling race, g position which he occu-
pied in two other of his four starts, his
winnings altogether amounting to but S465.
They made a much better bargain in buy
ing the three ear-old colt Virgil, who had
two valuable stake engagements at Balti-
ANAL Nf \. oh 10
was the Dixie Stakes, valued at $780,
and the second the Breckenridge, worth
So, 800 more. He also won another race
| that fall swelling his earnings to SIS, 100
In purchasing Virgil they thus early DEM
onstrated the pluck which has since made
them famous, for Virgil cost, together with
the brother to Bassett, 1000. They came
high, but the end justified the expendi-
ture. Their total earnings with four
horses for their first year on the turf was
S17,665.
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 ladder of success, and since
1880 have dominated the American turf
During twelve years of active campaign
ing they have won upward of 81 900, 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.
The possession, year after year, Of so
many first-class animals has led to the
phrase the Dwyer luck" but it has been
case of pluck, not luck, for they have an
nually expended thousands in an effort to
secure the best. The successful career of
Luke Blackburn in 1880, when that phe-
Il g. IL
S45 ,000 naturally made them long for an
other of the same kind, and so the annual
sale of thoroughbred yearlings at the Belle
Meade Stud, in Tennessee, in the year 1881
found them on hand to bid for his younger
brother, Joe Blackbur They had SUBJ
stantial rivals, but with characteristic nerve
silenced opposition, and when the auc-
tioneer's hammer fell it was upon their
bid of $500, then the largest price ever
paid for a yearling in the United States. 1t
was, however, poor purchase, for Joe
proved q sorry counterfeit of the distin-
guished Luke, and failing 10 win after sew
erai attempts, was speedily disposed of for
mere song. The same spring they also
bought the yearling Hindoostan for So 000
bat he did not stand a racing preparation,
and was likewise parted with.
Were they discouraged? Not at all
They were in for business and were made
of sterner stuff. The spring of 1882 found
them in Tennessee and Kentucky, and
nine yearlings were secured for S13, 1926, the
highest price (S2 700 being paid for Green
bush, full brother to Glenmore, and
81, 400 for Ell Dorado. The former won
them paltry hundred dollars, while the
latter did not do as well as that. Another
purchase was Burton for whom the price
paid was 81 $50, and he did much better,
i.t-iv. mi, 3
two-year-old, valued at S7775, but only
$500 the year following Still another pur-
chase was Palinurus for $780, In their
hands he accomplished nothing and was
sold for the price paid for him. But in his
three-year-od form Palinurus went to Sara
toga and beat their high priced Panioue
bought from Commodore Kittson after
winning the Whithers stakes at Jerome
Park.
The disposal of Pierre Lorillard's racing
stable stock took place in February, 1886,
and among the hundreds of noted turf men
gathered at Rancocas were the DIVER
brothers. The peerless Dewdrop was the
flower of the flock, having proved the
champion two-vear. of the previous
year, and as she had many valuable en-
gagemerts before her which seemed at her
mercy, barring accidents, the competition
to secure her was spirited. but the DIVERS
outlasted all other bidders and she became
their property for S29, 600 the largest price
ever paid in this country at auction up to
that time. At the same sale they bought
Ponitace for 1900, Winfred for $4,000,
Ponitco for $4,000 and Darruna for $500:
presenting check for $4,000 for the five
head. Other notable purchases at various
times during their career were Hindoo for
$4,000, Sir Dixon for 10000, Virgil and
q brrs har To for D.
for $4,000 Kingston for $12,5O0. Miss
Woodford for $1,000. Bankrupt for Sc. 700.
Tea Tray for Sl0,500, Charley B. for SC, 500,
George Kinney for 81 900, Glad Eyes for
$1,000, Luxe Blackburn, Ocean and Esquire
for 81, 500 each, Falsehood for 81, $50, Per-
kins for 81, 800, Alfareta for $1,000. Bramble
for So. 500, Barnes for $4,000, Blenheim
and Runnymede for $4,000, Warfield for
100, Ripple and filly for S. 900, Elias
Lawrence and Quito for So 900, Onondaga
for 5000, Bootjack for ST. 500, and Joe Cot
ton and Bessie June for $1,000. These
figures total $2S1 800. Varying prices were
paid for Rhadamanthus, Charley, Gorham.
Checkmate Tom Martin, Hartford, Jericho
and other animals of mature age which
were bought at different times, which would
probably increase the total to $500 600, and
added to the sum paid for yearlings will
represent an expenditure of something over
half million of dollars for horsefesh.
Red jacket and cap, with blue sash, are
the colors which the Dryers chose at the
start and which have never been changed.
AT various times they have been worn by
nearly all the leading jockeys of the coun-
try. AS previously stated, Barbee was the
first knight of the pigskin to ride for them,
having the mount on Rhadamanthus at
Saratoga on August II, 1876 During that
year Hughes, Holloway, Spellman, Mat
thews and Clark were employed to ride on
different occasions. In 1877 Spellman and
Evans were most frequently engaged, but
Hughes, Thompson, Booth, Syers, Bsrbee
and Proctor also had mounts The follow