The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-06

looking bank roll and relapsed once more
into thoughtful silence
This incident occurred before Riley
Grannan's nerve, judgment, and luck had
made him the greatest race-track plunger
of modern times but if the story was told
tomorrow TO any one Of 5000 racing men
In this country, and no names were men,
toned. he would pI1-- out Grammar as
the quiet man. His action in letting the
other man talk until he was tired. and
then knocking him into a heap with one
blow, was so thoroughly characteristic
of Grammar, that nobody who knows him
would for a moment doubt that he was
the hero of the story.
Much has been written about Riley
Grammar IN the past two years. and his
winnings have probably been much eX
aggcrated at times but, taken all in
all, he is about the most remarkable
young man that ever spoculated on the
race tracks in this vicinity, and his phe-
mOmonal luck and steady nerve, COM
bined with a natural aptitude for risky
work, have allowed him 20 carry on pro-
ftably a business which generally makes
brilliant but brief careers for men. a little
longer than any of his predecessors. 1t
Is up and down with most plungers, with
generally heavy slump, when keeps
them down for good as a windup, but
with Grammar il has been up, up, up.
with ar occasional streak Of hard luck as
q hint that things will not always go his
way. No one realizes this better than
Grammar. and lac Is the first 10 admit
that if he doesn't break away soon. the
figkle goddess may frOwn on him and in
one brief afternoon rob him OF ali the
golden favors she has showered upon.
him in years gone by \ crisis has been
reached In this young mans life. ON
Saturday a week ago he left the Graves
end race track worth more than a quar-.
ter of a million dollars. and with the
determination never to gamble again. Tie
is turning over all sorts of business
schemes. and is now IN his home at Paris.
Ky, trying TO forget all about betting
rings and race horses and to decide lust
what investment is the best for the bulk
Of his money. Apparently he has be-
come satisfied that there is nothing more
in horse racing for him, and the tracks
have seen the last of him; but ask anv
OF the old timers If il Is true that Gran
nan has quit, and see them smile know
ingly as they reply:
'Well, he says he has"
No one knows so well as the regulars
how il has been with plungers of the past.
and IL would be impossible to convince
and forever left the turf. II may be that
i'm Grannan's remarkable makeup there
Is sufficient determination 10 resist the
temptation TO risk sending his fortune
back TO its original owners, but YOU can't
convince racing men that this excep-
uonal young man is not like all other
plungers in this respect. There is a say
ing. "Once plunger, always a plunger."
and one has but TO look at Mike Dryer.
1ittsDurg Phil. and oid-timers like Plum
ger Walton 20 realize how true IL is Wal
ton is not IN the racing business now, but
he was as long as he had money to risk.
Mr.. Dwyer. is stu at IT, and Pittsburg
Phil il struggling 10 land again one of
his od-ume coups. PittsburF Pills
coups usci to scare the bookmakers, but
now tdays they're not much afraid of the
ex-cork7maker and his money is handled
as readily as that of the ordinary pub
lie.
Like every other famous turf gambler.
Riloy Grammar sprang up from nothing.
Pittsburg Phil was making corRs at O