The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
FAMOUS GAMBLER DEAD.
John DAILY Was Second Richest Pro-
fessional In America.


est professional gambler in this coun-
try with the exception of Richard Can
field. died at his home, u E. East Fifty
fourth street. after an illness that had
lasted seven months. Daily, who was
a fine looking man and of most Jolly
disposition, began to fail soon after MS
wife died at Saratoga last July. Inc
two were very much devoted TO eacn
other. DAILY had not been seen about
much since his wife died, and since
September he had been Ill. He died of
pernicious anaemia.
He was born in Troy, N. Y, in 1888,
and after studying in the public'schools
of that city took up the trade OF an
iron molder When but a young man
he drifted into the gambling business
in Troy and accumulated pile, and in
1864 he transferred his field of opera
lions to this city.
He first opened a place on Broad
way, near Fourteenth street, when that
part of the city was the liveliest. He
next opened a gambling house in Bar
clay street. and many years ago moved
to the big brown stone house on
Twenty-ninth street. just west of
Broadway.
Dalys career as a gambler of note
dates back to the passing of John Nor
rissey, and, just as the latter's sue
cessors, Reed and Spencer. were for
long at the head of sporting life at
Saratoga, Days clubhouse at Long
Branch was the center of similar life
/ at the seaside resort. The zenith of
his renown was when President Grant
ot,1 al NJ.
Tom Murphy and JON Hoey were con-
spicuous as leaders at the resort. Sen
ator Wolcott was a player at John
Days in the last season of the club
house and made some sensational win
nings there.
The prominence of the DAILY club
house waned with the closing up of
Monmouth Park and the change Of
LCng Branch from a hotel to a cottage
settlement, and finally Judge Fort
drove the gamblers out. DAILY never
turned a card at either Saratoga or
Newport. although he went to Sara
toga each summer. In August when
the racing was on at Saratoga he was
always on hand. 1t was his yearly vaca-
ton, so he always told his friends.
His houses in this city were always
closed at that time of the year
He was persuaded at one time to
go into horse racing, and ran horses
in his own name and colors at Mon
mouth Park for many seasons, one
mare, Carrie c, gaining fame later as
the dam of Jean Beraud. In 1890 Daily
formed a partnership in racing with
David Gideon. and the firm had many
successes. They bought the Lloyd
Farm at Holmdel. N. J.. as a stock farm
and training quarters. In 1891 they
won the Futurity with His Highness,
and with John Hyland as trainer the
stable was for three years very promi-
nent in eastern racing. In 1894 Gid
con G. DAILY won the Suburban with
Ramapo and also the Futurity with
The Butterflies.
They dissolved partnership the fol
lowing season, and there was notable
dispersal sale at Sheepshead Bay IN
the summer of 1895. At this sale Au-
gust Belmont bought Hastings for $35,
900 and Keenan, for $4,000. Gideon
bought In Requital and won the Futur
ity with the colt that fall Daily had
not since been prominent in racing. He
had often been heard to say that the
game was not much from a financial
standpoint.
DAILY was never collector of objects
of art or an expert on old prints. as
are some of the masters of chance. He
always contended that his game was
as straight as the Ten Commandments,
and gamblers that frequented his house
say that he told the truth. He never
gambled himself except what few bets
he made on the race track. He didn't
drink and smoked but very little.
The death of his wife was a severe
blow to him. One of the sights each
summer at Saratoga was DAILY and his
wife walking up and down the veranda
at the United States hotel, holding
hands like newly married couple.
They had no children. She was his
second wife, and they were married
twenty-seven years.
DAILY about four years ago. purchased
a fine home at IL East Fifty-fourth
street. where he died. For the last
year he had lived there alone. save for
housekeeper and man servant. His
body will be sent to his birthplace,
Troy and will be buried on Sunday
beside that of his wife.
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