Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-13


about 1885. the smart bookmakers OF the
wheelock and Llchtenstein type thought
they could break him, and they took hts
money every time II was offered and on
anything that he cared 70 wager. Some
heavy winnings, one In particular over
/ Bollan, a horse owned at the time by the
late A.. j. Cassatt, president Of the Penn
sylvania railroad. and afterward sold to
Garrison. tho Jockey, caused them to look
for softer game.
The race whore he made his star win
ming was over a 2-year-oid owned by him
self and whose private form had been care
fully concealed. This youngsters name
was King Cadmus. and Fred Taral. who
IL still riding horses. was engaged to ride
the colt In a dash down the old straight
course at Morris park. Taral was in the
heyday OF his career and could outflnish
any jockey then IN the saddle. II took ali
OF the phenomenal Dutchman's muscular
driving and lifting TO land King Cadmus
first by a nose Pittsburg was in the
stand. the least excited man IN the throng.
and tho only sign OF emotion he showed
was a slight smile in response to Walter
Keyes's jubilant announcement OF George.
we've skinned the ramp
Smith was never very fond OF giving
information TO those who he thought were
not entitled to Il and he would never admit
how much money he won that-day on King
Cadmus II was rumored that the records
OF the ring, which could be got at pretty
thoroughly. as nearly all Of the smart fell
lows got a lambasting, showed that Smith
took more than 100000 out Of the ring over
that particular race.
But Smith won on other peoples horses
/
| the owner and trainer of the horse did not
think they had chance. Sometimes he
would meet the trainer and in an exchange
of opinions would demonstrate clearly that
the horse under discussion should win that
day. taking form shown on previous occa-
sion as a line by which to figure. Com
meneing life as cutter OF corks and hav-
ing practically no knowledge Of horses, ne
developed into one Of the best judges Of
condition to be found anywhere, and II a
horse did not warm up to suit him or show
the sweat running clear and profuse In the
paddock before the race he would have
none OF him; or. II by chance his money
| was already down. he FASTENED to hedge.
Smith was clever enough, too, to always
have SOME good riders that were friendly
TO him, and one of them Willie Shaw, who
Is now riding in Germany, was as close to
the plunger as his brother. Bill. who
trained the horses running In the name OF
Pittsburg. Shaw was never much OF a
finisher, but he had that rare quality which
made Isaac Murphy, Jimmy Mclaughlin
and While Martin great jockeys--he could
tell you everything that happened during a
race after It was over.
"Of course you all know that the best
horse does not always win. Half a dozen
things can happen during the running of a
race and any one OF them may be fatal "a
the chances Of the best horse. Getting into
a pocket is one OF the ways a good horse
can lose, and especially IL there are jockeys
riding who have a crouch on the rider on
the horse that is in the tight place. They
won't pull out and let the unfortunate
through, and in taking back and going
around the field much, precious time Is lost.
SHAW, could not only tell what had hap
pened to his own mount, but to every other
horse in the race. and perhaps you don't
think that sort OF news was valuable ia
Smith. The horse that met with all the
trouble would probably be at much
longer price the next time he faced the
barrier, and plenty Of folks couldn't un-
derstand how anybody could bet on his
chances with the degree of confidence
| Smith displayed when he put down his
thousands. They knew more about II
though when the horse romped home, how
ever.
Did you ever think that Pittsburg Phil
was about the only one OF the big plungers
who brought next to nothing into the game
and left more than s2.5OOOOO in good, hard
cash and securities when he died a few
years ago? Just run your mind over some
OF the high rollers. Mike Dwyer made
money and lots OF 1t in the metal business
long before he ever thought OF owning
thoroughbreds. John w. Gates. as you
know, got his easy money IN Wall street
The old timer Bernard. had a profitable
business working for him, and 1t kept him
going for years and so It goes on down
the line. But Pittsburg Phil came from
s. & week as a cork cutter to e millionaire,
and all between the ages Of 20 and 81
did you ever hear OF the time he got his
tickets mixed at old Monmouth and got
into trouble for day or so because of
his youthful appearance?" interrupted one
OF the listeners. "No2 Well, I'll tell you
about It.
phil had grown tired beating George
Prices poolroom at Pittsburg and he
yearned for actual racing and a sight of
some OF the horses ana jockeys he had
been reading about and figuring on for a
few years He packed his bag and landed
in New York. knowing not more than two
or three persons In the big town. One of
these was printer who had worked in
the composing room OF a Pittsburg news
paper and being fond OF the races him
self and frequent visitor at Prices had
made the acquaintance OF Phil, who, by
the way gained the sobriquet which stuck
to him through life by giving It up when
ever he bought pool much the same as
broker in the street gives name to
the purchaser Of stocks.
''Pirtsburg always looked youthful, and
when he first appeared at Monmouth he
was not more than q and looked Is or
younger It was the day he burned the
ring UP on Eolian and he was In such q
hurry getting his money down that some
body else in the excitement OF the specula-
tion got one OF his tickets calling for $500
against. $500 while in return found among
his possessions when Eolian breeEed home
a pasteboard reading t125 to s26 As he
hadn't bet less sum than 500 In any OF
the books he knew right away that q mis-
take had been made.
He rushed into the ring aud up to the
particular bookmaker with whom he had
made his wager. and before they had be-
gun to pay off protested against the pay
ment OF the larger ticket. The frat man In
I Hna waiting IN uef hfa ruonaw xrfaa 4h.