The herald., 1895-02-28
Phil Dwyer Talks About the
Coming Pugilistic Event
THE AUSTRALIANS FORFEIT
No Fear Expressed as to Ability to
Produce the Money
Legislation Against Racing Mr.. Dwyer Thinks
is Big rlistake on the Part
of New York

st. Louis, Mo-. Feb. 27.-Phil J. Dwyer,
president of the Brooklyn Jockey Club,
stakeholder of the Corbett- -Fitzsimmons
match, and king among eastern sports, is
at the Southern. Mr.. Dwyer arrived in
st. Louis yesterday morning from Rock
Ledge, Fla, and New Orleans, La, and
will leave today for Hot Springs, where
he will tarry three or four weeks previous
to returning to New York to buckle on
his sporting armor for the season of '95.
In an interview Mr.. Dwyer said there
would be racing East this year and plenty
of it and of a fine character; that Corbett
and Fitzsimmons would decide their mat
ter beyond peradventure. When asked
whether the Australian had posted his
third forfeit, due the first of February,
the Eastern magnate replied: II do not
know, but rather think he has. | have
been enjoying myself in the wilds of
Florida with Dick Croker and my bro
ther Mike since January 1st, and have
paid very little attention to the Corbett-
Fltzsimmons affair during that time. But
| have reason to believe that the third
instalment OF Fitzsimmons' stake money
has been placed IN the hands of my sec
retary in Brooklyn"
When informed that doubts had been
expressed as to Fitzsimmons being able
to get the amount together, Mr.. Dwyer
said Mr.. Fitzsimmons was prompt enough
with his first two installments of the
stake, and as he seemed to have plenty of
admirers who expressed a willingness to
put up for him. feel sure that he has
complied with all the articles of agree
ment thus far In case | should find that
the money has not been posted, why, as
stakeholder, | suppose it is my business to
notify both men that negotiations look
ing to contest between them were off
In any event | do not think that Cor
bett would claim a forfeit. | believe he
would give Fitzsimmons any reasonable
time to come up with the money. Both
men are sincere in their desire to fight
and will meet, if not in Florida, ON some
other ground. If necessary the match will
be brought off in private. 1t looks as
though Florida would be the scene of the
battle. In case the present Legislature
does not pass law against boxing, the
fight will surely be pulled off down there"
Regarding the racing situation in the
East, Mr.. Dwyer said: "The Percy bill
will become law after much dalliance
and a few amendments. 1t is good law
and will put racing on a higher plane
than it has experienced since the sport
was introduced into this country There
will be no bookmakers, and though the
absence of those worthless will decrease the
revenues of the tracks to a considerable
extent it will strengthen the character of
the sport. We will be perfectly able now
to keep our racing clean and free from
scandal and that alone will tend to keep
up the attendance.
Without the bookmakers there will be
certain amount of sentiment in the rae
ing thing, l regret to state, that has
been almost eliminated during the last
few years. The members of the Jockey
Club will probably have a clearing !
house, patterned more or less after
Tattersall's in England, through
which medium, members and their
friends, and in fact, any reputable fellow
may speculate on the races. Representa-
tives, or rather commissioners, will work
the thing at the track, and the settlements
will be made at the clearing house.
'Jockey Simms sails for England early
in March. Mr.. Croker and my brother
follow him shortly afterward. They will
remain abroad throughout the season and
will not attempt to bring any of the horses
home to race in America. They have de-
cided to stick it out, win or lose, and try
their luck on the other side the entire sea-
son. I have some of my horses entered in
the Chicago stakes, viz: Handspring (2) |
by Hanover, My Favorite, the 3-year-old |
kennel, Declare, and | may go there later
in the season -