The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-28
BACK THEIR own HORSES
Methods Employed by Men Who
Own Racers in Placing
Their Money.
Mike Dryer the Biggest Bettor
Now on the American
Turf

Pierre LorilIard at the Track-Haggin,
Scott, Lucky" Baldwin, Withers, Bel
mont and Other Noted Men.
Betting on horse races has become a sci
ence and there are thousands of men in
every city where there is a race track, who
make living-sometimes good one and
sometimes a very poor one-by following
the races, says the New York News. The
majority of them though bet on small
scale. The 'plunpers'' of the turf are, with
one or two exceptions, to be found among
the owners of the big stables. Every bettor
adopts different method for placing his
money on the horses. Some of them walk
into the betting ring and place their money
with the book makers themselves. Others
employ commissioner who will transact
all the business with the book-makers for
the stable.
Mike Dryer, the youngest brother of the
Brooklyn stable owners, ia the biggest
bettor On the American turf. He is short.
slender man, well-built, quiet, saturnlne,
but not secretive except about his own bus
mess. He is 40 years old, married and has
three children. of whom he is very fond.
He sometimes places as much as *1o,oVO on
one race. On the course he is usually to be
found among the owners or near the timers
stand. When he has good thing he
will place on it all the money he can get,
and he not only backs his own horses but
any horse he may fancy. He places his
money through commissioner and seldom
enters the ring himself. He used to bet on
what is known as ION the nod" that Is to
say, he would have an account with each
book. maker which his commissioner would
square, either by receiving check or pay
had been run. Now he only sends cash into
the ring, and If he wins, draws out his win
nings at the end of every race. This is
also done through commissioner, and
the commissioner in this case is Johnnie
Kelly.
ia Somewhat shorter than his brother, but
yerv like him in build. He is very shrewd,
a good Judge of horse. and one of the
nerviest men on the turf. He will make a
match with any owner. and will run his
horses for any amount. The two brothers
can take success without getting what is
commonly called a sw'elled head, and can
take failure without purmur. 10 cas-
ual observer they appear to be ordinary Wis.,
itors to the course. Phil does not bet as
heavily as his brother, and IS satlsf1ed with
$500 on a horse he does not own, but in
race in which his stable is interested he oc-
casionally wagers on large scale.
Pierre Lorillard was always one of the
leading bettors and when he had good
thing he almost paralyzed the ring with his
two or three years, but this year the cherry
and black is on hand again. Lorillard
never enters the ring, but employs COM
missioner to place his money for him at the
best possible advantage. When the horses
go to the post Mr.. Lorillard will look criti-
rfat
to feel satisfied with his colts condition.
will glance at the other horses engaged.
AS the horses get into position to start, h.
holds his watch in one hand and his iele
ewes are riveted on his horse. Every move
ment of the latter or his rider is known tt
him from start to finish. When he wins
pleasant smile steals over his face, some
times he will take out his notebook and SCI
how much he has won, but this very sci
dom. If he loses, the closest observer
would not know it, except that instead o
examining his own horse, he would lool
over the one that beat his.
j. b. Haggin is another heavy bettor. H
is a sportsman in every sense of the word
He has more horses in California than h.
can count. His father was christianizet
Turk. Even racing men to whom his nam
is familiar would not ut all know him b.
sight. Yet he is really one of the most pic
turesque characters among the rich men Q
Jne country. Ill uHuTo ue IS VI ulculuA
height. with trim, straight legs. supportin
rather stalwart frame, with a head we
covered with hair that is almost white. II
wears beard and mustache closely croppe
and in color like his hair. There is fri
look on his face and his eyes are bright an
years old, but walks with a firm step. Their
is nothing ostentatious either in his mar
ner or his dress, and, while he might /
taken for prosperous banker, there
nothing about him which would lead one
think that he is man OF wealth that ru1
far up into the millions, and man who he
80 many irons in the fire that his interest
extend over almost all the world.
He bets very heavily. and has frequentl
stood to win 100000 on a race: On hors
money that the bookmakers will take. H
money is placed in the betting ring by
commissioner. During a race he usual
sits in the club house and listens and smil'
sardonically at his friends jokes. Only b
closest friends really know what he is doir
''tip." During the race he watches IL
horses very carefully, and when the finish
close becomes very much excited.
Ex-Congressman Scott. the Erie millio
aire. sometimes bets very heavily, and SON
times he is afraid to bet at all. When
bets heavily, it is usually on his own horse
He doesn't like to trust other people
horses. His face is familiar on every ra
course. He is slightly below tho mediu
height, an active, we'll knit man, clear-eye
and with Daniel Webster forehead.
dresses we'll and is famous for smoking b,
cigars. He has made his position in t.
world by pluck and brains. He is wor
about So, 0OO, 900. From two to three hu
dred dollars was his limit on race, al
this money was placed through his agel
Schaefer, who is a fair judge of racing. N
Scott could never stand losses we'll.
Lucky" Baldwin is as lucky on the tn
as in dealings with mining stocks and re
estate. He is about five feet nine inch
tall, thin and of dark complexion. I
hair is gray, and SO are his mustache a
goatee. He does not bet much. If he hal
good thing he will put up $500. and he
nervous and excited all the time until
has won or lost. He places his money hi
self, and is usually to be found in the b
ting ring watching the odds of the boz
makers, waiting to get the best of the cd
D. ID. Wlthers is short, quiet-lookl
man. Wears his hair. which is quite or
cut short. He invariably has cigar in
mouth, but he never bets cent.
August Belmont has owned racers
years, and he has now one of the finest &
bles in the country. Sometimes he b
heavily, but he is usually satisfied with 3
on his own horse. Then he carefully ii
his trainer if the horse is fit and ha
chance to win. When convinced on t
score he will bet 500 each way, and
ways wants big odds.
MIR. j. j. Galway, the owner of the Pre-
ness stable, made his money III the groc