The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07
81 AM THROUGH WITH THE TURF"
SAYS FAMOUS ''PITTSBURG Phil. -
Greatest of Race Track Gamblers Says That
MoIe-Cause Retirement to Be Jockey Shaws
Suspension by the Eastern Jockey Club
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York. June 81 will send YOU a
check on Monday for what 1 owe you.
will not visit the track again. and am done
with the racing game for good and all
This was what George f. Smith said to
several members of the Metropolitan Turf
Association Saturday in the big ring at
Gravescnd. 1t was not the heated outburst
that enc may hear almost any day at any
race track from some disgruntled loser, hut
was. the convincing speech of one OF the
coolest heads ever seen on the turf, or of
for that matter.
II was not that one OF the greatest plung-
eTs ever known IN the history OF the turf
had suddenly become displeased but It was
the determined assertion Of 4 man who
fees lie has had enough of the game and
g ready to take his leave of it, as any man
may retire from business after a successful
career.
MOST FAMOUS OF PLUNGERS.
Many people would pass the name of
George +. Smith without notice, but that
of "Pittsburg Phir' is one that is known
throughout the world. in every city and
hamlet where the English language is
spoken.
Less than fifteen years ago no one had
ever It1Tu tA NI4lS man WHO mas DeI mil
lions within the last decade. Early in the
eighties he worked at the trade of cork
cutter in a factory in Pittsburg. Pa. He
worked hard and steadily and probably
made SO or $50 month. Pittsburg IS the
head Of what is called the Poker Belt"
In Pennsylvania. but it was not this Sc
ductive game that caught the play of the
boy who was later destined to electrify the
racing -1-OrII n
the race track.
The poolroom game has never fourished
IN the Smoky City. but at odd times there
was enough of it to give young Smith a
chance TO whet his appetite for the run
rers. and having accumulated few dollars,
e HE'D himself to Chicago, where he could
bet on the horses TO his hearts content.
HOW HE GOT HIS NICKNAME.
It was In the Windy City that he got the
name OF 'Pittsburg Phil" In those days
betting was done largely through auction
pools. This was the popular way of betting
on the horses. After each horse was
knocked down to the highest bidder the
auctioneer would ask the name of the pur-
chaser. Smith always said Phil
There happened to be another Phil who
natronized the same parties, so to distin-
name OF 'Pittsburg Phil" This nom de
course has since been his, and safe TO say
none is known better.
This man. with luck combined with rare
judgment that comes with cool, unruffied
temperament. was soon well known in the
Windy City, and known to the sorrow of
those who were willing to wager against
him. Having prospered in the West, he
had visions of winnings to b. had in the
on the race tracks around New York. and
his coming was soon felt He was success
full from the first, and having said that he
had gotten his start from backing the
horses of the Dwyer Brothers when they
raced a stable as partners and were in the
zenith of their glory. he conceived the idea
of establishing stable Of his own, which
COUP ON KING CADMUs.
His first great coup, and one which is
well remembered to this day. was with
King Cadmus. And this was one that may
well be remembered as one of the biggest
things that ever came off on a race track.
Had he done nothing else in turf history
he would have been remembered and talked
of in after. years for this one thing alone.
King Cadmus was colt that was put up
in 1890. This yearling caught the eye of
''Pittsburg Phil and he was ready to pay
good price TO take him into his stable.
TO Phil for 5000 - ' Wv
King Cadmus started as a 2-year-old in
1881. Phil. always confident that he had
lost thousands, and about this time many
of the wise heads were predicting the pass-
Ing Of a plunger Those there We're who said
he would surely not last through that year.
He bet heavily on the colt at Monmouth
Park and lost. He was entered in the Fu-
turity and Phil was confident that he
would not be out of the money and bet
thousands on him in that race. Again he
lost, but this man of ice had never turned
a hair
OPENED AT Is TOT.
He was entered in the Sapphire Stakes,
run at Sheepshead Bay shortly after the
FUturity, and this was the race that marked
the coup that will never be forgotten by
those men who were that day eager to take
the bets of the youth from the West. The
opening price of King Cadmps was 10 to l.
Phil went through the ring betting 500
and 500 at a clip on his horse and when he
had been the rounds the bookies had failed
10 rub. They remembered the thousands