The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-04

The luck Of "Pittsburg Phir' in hav-
ing mud horse eligible to last Mon
days rich Brooklyn handicap, posting
him as an additional starter during the
afternoon, and winning the big race
with him, is the chief topic under
discussion in turf circles, says the New
York Herald.
Many persons favorably entertained
the theory that Howard Mann had been
prepared for the Brooklyn and would
have started instead of his stable COM
panion, The Winner, no matter what
the condition of the track, and that his
owner had contemplated a coup with
him over the race in question since
early April. The majority, however,
took a common sense view of the mat
ter. They assumed that The Winner
could not untrack himself in the mud,
and that Smith started Howard Mann
to make running for Belmar, and was
agreeably surprised when he made a
runaway race of the event.
HIS NICKNAME.
George Il. Smith, "Pittsburg Phil"
has certainly enjoyed a fair proportion
of luck in the dozen years he has been
on the turf. He began his specula-
tive career in the Chicago pool rooms,
and there obtained the nickname of
"Pittsburg Phil" which has since
clung to him, from William Riley the
veteran pool seller There Were so
many Smiths buying auction pools in
that dingy old Chicago room in those
days that Riley, in order to keep their
accounts separate, improvised a string
of aliases, and accordingly the boyish
looking plungcr from Pittsburg became
"Pittsburg Phil"
Ten years ago the Illinois legislature
passed an anti-pool bill, and PITTS
burg Phir' came to New York. His
first day upon an eastern race track
was at Monmouth, July 4, 1887. He
won $4,000 that day backing Preciosa
and Ben Ali, of the Haggln stable.
During the next three seasons his turf
winnings amounted to $250,000.
Phil" began buying horses in 1889,
his first purchase of note being Kern.
The first big haul he made with one of
his own horses was over King Cad
mus, who won by a head, enabling
PHIL to cash tickets amounting to
something over S120,000 Five years ago
the victory of his Parvenue, at Sleeps
head Bay, netted him upward of $780,
600. He won handsomely over his
Candelabra and Applause at times dur
ing recent seasons, but Monday was
the first time he has had his colors
borne to victory in one of the premier
turf events.
$500, 900 CHANGED HANDS.
The amount won by "Pittsburg Phil"
over Howard Mann's taking the Brook
lyn is still a matter for conjecture.
Something like 100000 changed hands
and was paid over to persons who had
supported the Smith stable. One
quarter Of this total probably found it's
way into "Phils" bank account. His
commissioners averaged three to one
about the stable. Against Howard
Mann, separate, the prevailing quota
tion was 10 to 1. A great deal of this
was accepted by Smith, because the
price looked false one. Had he
thought Howard Mann equally as good
as Belmar he would certainly have
withdrawn Belmar and averaged Elk
or eight to one about his fortunate can
didate. Having a mudlark Keyed up to
racing pitch and eligible to the hand
some Brooklyn was another instance
of "Pittsburg Phil's' luck, or turf
judgments.
If Howard Mann starts in the Su-
burban he will carry 11S pounds, having
incurred a 12-pound penalty by Win
ming the Brooklyn.