Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-27

his friends to have been due to nervous
prostitution. His friends positively deny
that he is in financial straits, although
they admit he was a very heavy loser last
year. They assert he will soon be on his
feet again.
OF all the strange characters of the
American turf no one is stranger than
'Pittsburg Phil" Fifteen years ago he
was cutting corks for a living in n factory
at Pittsburg, and was earning SO a week
by working ten hours a day. Last year he
was estimated to be worth at least half a
million dollars in cash and had besides one
of the most formidable stables of race
horses in America. The public says he is
lucky. Horsemen say he is the best Judge
of a race horse ever seen in any country.
Bay a few years ago "Pittsburg Phill''
who owned the horse. won Sl25, 900 on his
victory, This was perhaps his greatest
coup. He is about 50 years old. good look
ing, gentlemanly, and would pass for a
clerk in a big wholesale house. His address
Is as meek as a young clergyman's. He is
manner would tempt the ordinary sport"
to take him for a fiat" Whoever does is
mistaken. for without their loudness. their
swagser and their bumptiousness the mild
hammered young man is their match, and
Is one of the few men who has been able
TO beat the races Oh the outside.
Just before Mr.. Smith left New York for
Florida, January 3 last, he was interviewed
by a reporter, 10 whom he said:
that is where / acquired my fondless Tor
the sport. l think at one time nobody
played horses heavier in poolrooms than I
was in backing Uriel in the Dash
stakes at s%heepshead Bay. ! put SIG
day. "a account for his TSui1 defeat e1t. Sc So t cert
tam was | of winning that | advised ali my
friends to back the colt. The night after
the race l could not sleep. so got up early
and went TO the track TO look at the colt. I
then found out the cause. He had plenty
laid the defeat. Sloane was so anxious to
win that he put on spurs, which had |
known it. / would not have allowed. 1t
does not do to put spurs on a colt till you
have worked him with them to see how he
acts. Uriel went up and down in the stretch
like a hobby horse.
Il concluded / could get my money back
and a great deal more besides in the stake
race ON the following Tuesday. in which
TrIel was engaged. l made up my mind to
put $4,000 ON him if ! could bet it on. When
went 10 the track with this intention I
and was then on the water, so you may
imagine my disappointment.
Il mean to curtail my betting considera-
bly, to what | have been in the habit of: il
is n useless worry. and as I don't need the
money I intend TO take things easier an
other season. ! hope to have a good stable,
and shall pick up two or three more horses
whenever l see any TO suit"
A close friend of ''Pittsburg Phil" once
described the young man as follows:
Phil is not a sport. He bets on nothing
hut race horses. He doesn't play cards.
isn't fond of billiards or any games. lie is
women. He looks rather delicate. but
that's because he doeSn't drink whisky TO
flush his face-his health is splendid. He's
close about money matters: never wastes
n dollar. But no one loses money on a
race with better grace: he never w%rangfes
snd the bookies all like to bet with him.
He has a queer. plausiNe. ain.ast boyish
oandor in his talk tina: strikes a stranger
as marking him a giIly.' but there's an
undercurrent of wonderful sagacity that
never appears on the surface. He is 50
frank and cunning that w.tl his cunning
red have made a great confidence lnan
But he isn't that kind. Hes perfectly
honest. He beats the dishonest one be-
cause nature has made him wiSsr and
smarter than they. It's MS keeI insight
and good sense that help him."