The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-01
BOXERS DRIFT FROM
RING TO THE TRACK.
Padded Mitt Artists Usually
Leave Their Earnings With
BooIies

Jeffries does that Davy Crockett stunt
with considerable ease and grace, said
a sporting man last night just in from
the West, who watched Jim chase the
hungry wolves from the cabin door, while
the gallery gods cheered themselves
hoarse. 81 don't think he will ever shine
with Jim Corbett in the acting line, but
he is much better than one would expect.
Speaking of pugilistic actors it would
seem that the prize ring stars who have
made a success on the stage are few and
far between. Corbett is really the only
knight of the padded mitt who has gene
along year after year making a good liv-
ing in the show business. Most of the big
fighters prefer the turf to the stage, but
it cannot be recalled where one of them
has made a bowling success out Of the
racing game. Nearly all the prominent
pugs have tried their hand at it and
failed.
Jim Jeffries never owned a stable OF
race horses nor does he aspire for honors
in that line. Bob Fitzsimmons never gave
much attention to the turf, but likes good
horses. Tom Sharkey Is a crank on the
harness horse, and last fall made the
statement that he exported 5000 highly
bred animals annually to Austria Tom
probably meant 9 instead of 5000, but
then Tom is too busy to worry over fig
ures. Both Terry McGevern and his man
ager, Sam Harris, tried for fame and for
tune on the turf but never fattened their
bank accounts to any great extent. Harris
at one time owned stable Of about 20.
racers Including that ,'2t consistent per- r.
disgust McGeyern's best horse was Cin-i
cinnatus, now racing On the Pacific coast
Cincinnatus made quite a record for him.
self in the East, but McGovern for some
reason disposed of him and never got hold
Of another good one. TeTry's little brother
Phil. was at one time a jockey for Pitts,
burg Phil and that's what attracted
Jack MeAuliffe, the retired lightweight
champion. was always a crank on race
horses, and Is today a bookmaker in the
the same time as McAuiiffe would talk
more horse than fight any day In the
week. He was jockey in Ireland. and
he will enter baseball as trainer for the
Boston American league champions. Kid
Mccoy knows as much about the racing
saaH making book % Wit with his brotheriniaW. e h0W
Charley, Hensel at Los Angeles. Frank
Nell, who was recently defeated for the
bantam weight title by Joe Bowker in
London, was at one time g. jockey. His
father Is a race horse owner in California
and frankie has an interest in the stable
George Gardner. the ex-lfght heavyweight
champion. was raised with horses in Ire
land, his home. being near the birth
place OF that famous race horse imp.
Candlemas. In County Clare, Ireland
George bought a stable for himself, and
lost all the money he made while he held
down championship honors
l. Billy Thompson, who was at one time
manager Of Charley Mitchell, is crank
on horse racing, and, although he has
sunk thousands trying to pick winners,
he would never allow any of the fighters
he managed to go near race tracks. Dan
Cfeedon was q crank for fair, on the thor
oughbreds. He always liked to be around
horses; and for years worked as g book
! makers clerk. -
horses one time, and was going te cut
quite a dash IN the business. He received
friendly tip from one who had tried and
failed, then he sold his racers to his neigh
Dor, milkman. Danny Needham was very
fond Of the races, and for years. travelled
with Denny Lynch, who was ruled oH~at
Chicago some time ago. Jim Hall was all
tracks. Paddy Sullivan. the former man
ager Of Oscar Gardner, has for years been
Identified with the racing game
He made some money out Of 1t, but the
best thing he ever struck ON the turf was
the contract on Jockey Crimmins, who he
developed into q star rider. Joe Vendig
got tired OF the fighting game after the
Mitchell Corbett fight at Jacksonville, and
now pays strict attention to the turf He
is one of the most successful bookmakers
In the East. Bob Gray, who managed the
Southern Athletic club at Louisville, was
at the same time interested in the racing
game and made money out of both. Jake
Hoffman. the famous starter, quit the
reputation and fortune on the turf Char
ley Vokes, the owner Of the Vokes start
ing gate. was formerly lightweight cham
| pion OF Ohio. He never saved a penny
out of the earnings, but is getting rich
on his new patent. Billy Meyers, the
/ famous "Streator Cyclone quit the fight
| Ing game without money and went on the
turf. He is now superintendent of the
Harlem race track and has the proverbfaI
| fortune put away for a rainy day Others
too numerous to mention have tried both
| lighting and racing with varying success,
| but most of them quit losers on both
/ propositions.