The sun., 1893-08-04
4 NAN VINO WILL BE MISSED.
Henry Clay Ditmas, Who Made q Fortune
at the Race Tracks.

| Henry Clay Ditmas, Who Made y Fortune
at the Race Trucks.
Henry Clay Dttnaas, the best known turf cor
respondent In the United States as re- CARDS the
sending OF turf Information to newspapers.
pool rooms. and all racing centree, including
the entries and results OF races throughout
the country. expired suddenly Yesterday
morning at his residence on Kings Highway.
near Sheershead Bay race course. He was
prostrated By u severe attack resulting from
Brights disease while crossing Fulton ferry
on Wednesday evening and taken to the
United States Hotel. where he was attended
By DR.. Stewart OF the Astor House. he par.
TALLY recovered from the attack and was taken
to his home, where he suffered q relapse and
dead.
Mr.. Ditmas first began the business Of turf
correspondent In the early and palmy days at
Brighton Beach. when no bookmakers were
employed. and when the sale OF So mutual
pool tickets were enormous. the aggregate
sales running from $4,000 to 100000 per
day when there were special attractions.
From Brighton he soon transacted business
with larger tracks, and during the years in
which racing has reached colossal proper
tions his income has grown to be enormous.
Like nearly all men who make money out OF
racing. he was seized with the betting mania.
and during some seasons he had lost heavily:
many thousands Of dollars each year. until at
the time of his death his possessions were es-
timated to be worth about S25O.OU
Mr.. DitmAs was q man OF striking presence.
He was little over six feet In height. dressed
in dark garments OF ministerial cut, and would
have been taken as n church dignitary rather
than follower OF the turf; and one OF the
heaviest betting men in the business.
mas has i'm parted many items of news to the
writer. which have appeared in the turf re-
ports OF TRE Sun. and recently while speaking
Of the immense amount OF money he has paid
had paid Gloucester alone about $500. 900 for
inform alton about the races at that track, which
he had sent broadcast throughout tho
cities OF the land: and this amount was small
wass with thss Paf to 9hsr race
dunn OF the money he had turned into the rae
Ing associations. the information to 90 used In
q specia article for THE SuN. hut no crossed
the line beyond which there Is no return before
true to his word. and his word was as good as
gold.
On Tuesday last he said that he had lost con-
siderable money this season by playing horses
betting pay" remarked Mr.. Ditmas."
Mr.. Ditmas came from AN old and respected
Long Island family. The old homestead IL at
Flatlands. where his mo;her. whose eiEhtistL
birthday was to have been celebrated yester-
day, resides. The mansion and groupds oc-
eupied by Mr.. Ditmas at tho time Of his death
Is the nnest place In the vicinity Of the race
courses near the seashors OF Long Island. He
took pride IN keeping the grounds in attrac-
tive order. and was fond OF his homestead. He
owned other valuable real estate In the vicin-
ity. and held . heavy mortgage on one OF the
Control tracks. Ho will be missed from the
arena. and will be long remem-
bered by those who know him best.