The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-02-13
BELMONT AS 4 SPORT.
Interesting Anecdotes of the Great Banker
and Horseman.
From the Sportsman.l

tFEoHi Tue oPoitSi!i"ii.j
The late Mr.. Belmont was man Of dol
lars and cents, and it was as hard to strike
trade with him for S. as it was for
5000 When he was standing ST. Blaisc,
upon that horses arrival in America a
friend wrote to him asking for Il compli-
mentarv season TO that horse. In reply
Mr. Belmont said he had announced his
horses price and he would be compelled to
exact money for his services. If the
same man had wanted fayor-in other
words, a loan for the sum namcd-on ac
count of friendship the deceased banker
would probably have accommodated him
without security, as he did hundreds Of
others in his time, but to charge one man
$3.50 to breed u mare to his stallion and
another one nothing did not conform to
his idea of business affairs.
Though frequently placing bets on
other peoples horses, Mr.. Belmont would
never do so until satisfied by the horses
owner that he (the owner) had backed
him all that he had desired to do; then he
would sail in and frequently bet quite
sum of money, often more than the owner
did himself In the race now known as
the Excelsior Stake at Saratoga some
wears ago, Mr.. Belmont started a good
! fillv, Finesse and, with the addition of
Hamburg and Chilicothe, the race prom
ised to be great one. a then unknown
horse by the name Of Frogtown was also
probable starter, and q few days before
the race be ran fast trial, up to that
| time the best work ever done at Saratoga
at a mile with shoes on. The people who
controlled the horse thought they alone
were aware of his starting work, but Mr..
Relmont's then trainer, jacob Pincus,
saw the move and noted the time. The
dav before the race Mr.. Belmont went to
| him to canvass the situation, and Pincus
told him Finesse had fine chance to heat
Hamburg and Chilliclothe, but" added
| the astuie trainer, "not that unknown
Western Whirlwind." "Why," said the
unusually silent Jacob, she will walk
| home" Mr.. Belmont seemed surprised,
| but said nothing, aud that night strolled
| into the pool room, as he was wont to DO,
hut il was noticed that he seemed more
| interested in the entries Of the races than
usual.
The first pool on the stake in question
| was soon sold, and in an $1,000 ticket.
Frogtown brought $35. The plungers
were divided as to favorites, and the bet
ting waxed hot, pool after pool, amounting
into thousands, being knocked down, but
each time Frogtown, who always sold last
of all, WAS reached, no one seemed inter-
| ested in him save wiry, STRENGTHENING
| Kentucky gentleman, who quietly bought
every pool Finally the latter turned to
! go away, and Mr.. Belmont accasted him,
| at the same time inqpiring il be had
bought all the pools he wanted. An answer
in the affirmative brought out the remark
from Mr.. Belmont that Jacob had told
him that colt would win, and from that
time every Frogtown pool fell TO the
bankers bid. The race was run the next
day, In spite of hard rain, which nearly
precipitated q postponement, but Frog,
| town proved he liked the mnd as we'll as q
dry track by leading from start to finish