The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-07
LIKE A BOOK.
Reads the History of Dead Turfman
Mike Dryer.

Saratoga, N. Y.-Michael F. Dwyer, who
died at Gravesend, won 100000 in 1891 bet
ting on odds-on favorites.
"I do not know of any other business
In which 1 can get such good interest and
such prompt returns said he to friend
at that time.
This remark was made at Jerome park
on that ever-memorable cay that Terriher
beat Kingston. The odds on Kingston that
day were so prohibitive that Dwyer could
not get his money on his horse, and then
instructed Joe vendig to bet for him on
Terrifer for the place. The finish was up
near the paddock. beyond the regular fin
ishfng point. Anthony Hamilton rode
Kingston, and said afterward that he
knew the finish was beyond the usual
point, but the old horse, which had run
nearly 200 races. thought he knew where
the finish ought to have been, and Hardy
Campbell, the trainer of Kingston. said
that It was dangerous thing to let the
horse go to the front until right near the
finish, as he would not stop of his own ac-
cord.
Shortly after the sensational defeat OF
| Kingston Dwyer bet $4,000 to win $500
| on Sir John to beat King Maker, and the
| latter upset the odds Years before that
| Dwyer wagered $4,000 on Joe Cotton TO
| beat Binetts. He won this bet, but those
| who saw the mastery ride of McLaugh-
| lin, who nursed Joe Cotton home by a
head will never forget their feelings when
| they realized how close to defeat Joe Cot
ton came that day.
Dwyer gave no outward evidence OF
| emotion, and this trait made a physical
| wreck of him eventually. as well as IT
did of the late "Pittsburg Phil both Of
whom suffered severe mental strain when
| ever they had unusually large bets.
| Michael F. and Philip ]. Dwyer, Wash
| inston Market butchers, formed racing
| partnership about thirty years ago, when
| they bought the fast black Splinter Rhad-
| amanthus. bred by August Belmont, ana
| with him won so many races as to pc
come at once prominent. Another selling
platter they owned was Charley Gorham.
| Both achieved their greatest fame at
Saratoga. Next followed the sensational
purchase of a brother to Basset and Vigil
| for $4,000 Bramble was the next good
horse they owned, and he really made the
| future of his owners, because In the alb
sence of Duke of Magenta in England
Bramble was the best horse left In this
country From ]. T. Williams, the man
who developed Rams Horn, they pur-
chased Luke Blackburn, and he also won
a fortune for them.
Then came Hindoo, Runnymede. Barnes
and Miss woodford. 1t was on account
of the last named that James Rowe left
| the firm. lt
He refused to become responsible for
the mare in running her for race in
which he did not think she should have
| been started Frank McCabe. then be-
came the trainer.
The famous firm dissolved here at Sara
toga in the summer of 1890.
g. tlr xuroo hot
Michael bet large sum of money to
beat Kingston. which was owned by the
DIVERS and Kingston won. Philip said
he thought If Kingston had been beaten
1t would have led to scandal
The deceased's whole life was one Of
exciting episodes. After the oonsttu-
tional amendment of 1894 was passed.
prohibiting betting on race courses
Dryer took to England the whole of his
horses. Jointly owned by himself and Rich
ard Croker, and from that hour fortunes
went down The English campaign lost
Dwyer and Croker a fortune, the stable
was weakened by Banquet and Harry
Reed being claimed out of selling races,
and when Dwyer. returned to America
the Ill fortune with the colt Michael
which dropped dead one morning In the
Futurity won by L'Alouette Dryers Per-
rons was left at the post and he might
have won If he had got away.
The Elizabeth race track represented
large investment for Dwyer, and this be-
came unproductive in 1898. The Monmouth
park venture and the leasing of Jerome
park for a season were both losing ven
lures. also.
The deceased died of cancer in the face
He had been afflicted with paralysis of
the lower limbs for the past few years
He would have been 50 years old In
September. His surviving brother is So
wears old Both were born in Rrooklyn
Philip J. Dwyer refused to see any one
tonight. Charles F. Dwyer is the only
survivor of a large family. of whom the
decea sed was parent.