Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-31
HARD STUDY A FIRST REQUISITE.
If You Must Hazard Your Money Do Not
Have Whims and Systems.
P1TTsBURG PILLS IDEA OF SUCCESS
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH,

upon such pastimes is perhaps more univer-
sally prevalent than at any other period of
the worlds history, and nowhere more so
than in our own country.
The very great increase in horse racing,
both running and trotting, which We have
seen within the past few years, and which
seems to steadily continue, has been the
means of initiating into the practice of bet
ting an immense number of people of all
ages, both sexes, and every condition and
walk of life. In view of this fact recently
solicited an expression of their views from
several of the great bettors now most promi-
nently identified with the American turf on
the question of how to win money on the
flyers:
'Pittsburg Phil" whose real name is
George E. Smith, enjoys greater newspaper
notoriety than any other turfman of our
time, fully equaling in that respect that
famous pIunger of years ago, 7. F. Walton.
All sorts of stories are in circulation about
Phil's early life. The newspapers have
assigned him to almost every known trade
from cork cutting to scissors grinding.
Certain it is he was once an employe at
Armstrong; cork factory in Allegheny.
How Pittsburg Phil Got His start.
His first bet was laid in Smoky City
pool room. Fred Mignery was Pittsburg
printer and he and Smith became intimate.
Mignery often tried his luck on the flyers,
and bought his tickets sometimes under the
name of "Big Sam," sometimes under that
of "June" He steered Smith into the pool
rooms and between them they struck it rich
right along. Smith won lots of money in
the West; then he went East and became
follower of the Dwyer Brothers stable,
which was then very powerful one, and
was steadily winning every race in which
it had an entry.
Two stories are told as to his picturesque
nickname. One is that when he first be-
came a familiar character at the great race
courses nobody knew his name, but some
one said he came from Pittsburg, and then
someone else gave him the soubriquet of
"Pittsburg Phil" which has clung to him
ever since The other story is that when
Fred Mignery was buying tickets in the
name of "Big Sam" and "June" he bought
few for his friend Smith under the name
of "Phii." This 'Phil" was lucky, and
his fame soon spread to other cities, where
he became known as 'Pittsburg Phil" He
tells me that from that time to the present
he has rarely failed to quit winner at the
the extent of $3.50, 900 in single campaign.
He is a snooth-faced, slender, bright-look-
ing man of middle age.
Never own a ny Race Horses.
eff you want to win money on the turf by
betting heavily" he said, in reply to my
question, 'tnever own any race horses your
II III i'll iv,An
vour Judgment. You may go to the track
convinced that some horse will beat the one
you have entered, but as soon ae you see
your horse you will begin to wish that he
may win, and from wishing you will soon
progress to believing. Then you will wager
all the money you can raise on an animal
which you had previously decided, in your
sober senses, had no chance Of winning.
'You will doubtless say that this is very
strange, foolish talk from one who has made
two such great wins as have with my colt
king Cadmus, but in spite of my two
coups on that nag, still believe that the
principle l have just laid down is the cor
rect one. Even In the case of king Cad
mus think I overestimated his ability.
On the Sd of last September, when I staked
s., 900 on him at such heavy odds that I won
$50, 200, expected him to win with the
greatest ease, but he won only by neck
after one OF the most desperate finishes that
Taral, his jockey, ever rode. Again, when
L won about $35, 900 on him on the End of
last June, up to the time he was within
three Jumps of the wire, it looked as though
he could not finish better than third.
1t was only by the wonderful rally of his
rider, Snapper Garrison, that he managed
to finish first by barely three inches, yet be-
fore the start I was confident that he could
win easily.
No Use for Superstitions or Systems
"If you want to win money by turf bet
ting have no superstitions, no systems, no
set rules or IDEAS Shun professional 'touts'
and the tips they offer to sell you as you
would the plague. Try to form an intelli-
gent judgment as to the respective merits OF
the horses and of their jockeys, on that par
ticular day and track, and then don't be
afraid to back it.
"One peculiar thing about betting is that
the strain on ones nervous system is greater
when you win than when you lose. 1t is
invariably so with me, and other big bet;ers
tell me their experience is similar. After
losing heavily 1 go to the theater or some
other amusement resort and soon forget my
losses Then l 60 home to bed and sleep
soundly. But after making big win L
am very apt to pass sleepless night"
Mr. John Goodwin, one Of the Goodwin
brothers who compile the "Ofhcial Turf
Guide" the standard authority of American
drum to him, that to win money OIL the
turf one should have certain limit in bet.
ting and never go beyond it. He should
not stake on single race more than one
fourth of his available betting capital.
Then, in the event of losing, he would have
three -fourths with which to win it back.
When it is possible to hedge q bet to ad-
vantage it should always be done.
eff you believe that horse that is ever
so short in the betting can win, he con-
tinued, ''and your belief is based upon
carefully and accurately formed, intelligent
judgment, do not hesitate to back that horse
with just as much confidence as yoo would
if he were favorite. II you win on one
race do not invest all your winnings on the
next. 1 do not believe there is any system
of betting that can be recommended. The
only way to win is to study the horses, the
jockeys and the track"
Phil Dwyer Makes 1t Study.
Phil Dwyer, one of the famous Dwyer
brothers, is one OF the few men who have
made great fortune on the turf He be-
gan lie as a butcher, and being, like all
butchers, intensely fond OF horses, ne finally
came. together with his brother Mike, to
devote himself to the business OF racing
them. He is very quiet, pleasant gentle
man, with frank, kindly expression of
face, notwithstanding cast in one OF his
eyes which gives him rather mischievous,
roguish look. When 1 asked him Tor his
views on how to win money on the turf he
smiled pleasantly and said:
IF should attempt to lay down any
general rules tor. the guidance of bettors,
the first would be, never bet isnorantly,
simply upon the chance and with the mere