Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-13
PLUyCERS OF IRON NERVE
Three Men Who Showed No Feeling,
Win or Lose.
COLD PLUCK AT Az Tnns
No Complaint Made by Mike Dwyer
About. had Luck that Cost Him
Thousands-Big Wagers
Of PittsburE Phil.

OF ElNtAuufA Ehhs
NEW YORK. March 12.--'You mark my
words" said an old-time specuiator on
turf events. ITS the fellow who bottles up
his feelings and shows no signs Of emotion
who goes away quicker than the chap yho
yells his head off when his horse wins.
'Tve noticed the quiet ones down the
line and the best examples Of their kind
have gone refer to Mike Dwyer, Pitts
burg Phil and Pat McCarren. None Of
them ever batted an eye when he had a
nose finish for thousands. but they burnt
up internally and would have lived longer
II they had yelled now and then. It's the
way a high-strung chap has OF letting off
steam and It relieves the tension tremen-
dously.
Il remember the day that Previous
failed TO get away from tho post for the
Futurity, which the colts subsequent form
showed he could have won easily. Nike
Dwyor owned Previous. and he had, l
think, ZOO up on the son Of Meddler.
1T was Dwyer's custom to view the race
from the end Of the grandstand nearest
the clubhouse when they were running at
sheepshead Bay, and he was pacing up and
down with his field glasses In his hand
while the big bunch OF 2-year-olds were
at the post. From time to time he would
stop and look anxiously through the
glasses Finally there was shout Of
They're Off" and with cloud Of dust
three-quarters OF a mile away Indicated
that the race was under way Dwyer's
glasses were glued on the starting point
when Mr.. Pettingill raised the barrier and
the moment the start was made he began
pacing TO and fro taking no more interest
in tho race.
Somebody's Ieftp calculated by
stander.
''Yes, it's Previous remarked the iron
nerved plunger, as he continued on his
walk.
IT was no fault Of the starter that
Previous failed to get away, nor was it
through any remissneas on the part OF
Sims the famous colored jockey, who
had the mount 1t happened that Previ-
GUS had drawn the outside position at the
post and that the farmer had the field
next to the Futurlty chute planted in
oats. The waving grain swayed tempt
ingly near the colt and he turned his head
for hasfy bite just as Mr.. Petungiil
released the barrier and called Come onP
: The jockey and colt were both caught
unawares and it was too late to- rectify
the mistake, though there are some who
stin think that Previous could have gone
after his field and won.
1T is not recorded that Mr.. Dwyer ever
made any complaint to anybody or muir
INJURED over his hard luck. He, realized that
he was up against fate and accepted what
came as his share OF the uncertainty OF the
sport
"Those who were most familiar with
Dwyer found 1t just as hard to gauge him
and his methods as the most utter stranger,
He dearly loved a favorite and the shorter
the odds Nhe more money he would bet.
ION one occasion he bought horse
named Joe Cotton for $4,000 and started
to win him out. The odds were / to B. and
at those figures he wagered $4,000. The
race was at the Bay and the California
mare, Birette, was at Cotton's throatlatch
all the way through the stretch and only
the Judges knew which had won at the
wire. Not muscle Of the pluRger's placid
face moved as Cottons number was flashed
10 the announcement board, and his only
remark, as a friend who sat with him In
the timers stand slapped him on the back
in congratulation, was:
Tight squeak
"Pittsburg Phil was much like Dwyer in
some ways. He was equally as silent In the
early days Of his career, but when the dis
case which carried him off subsequently,
had made severe inroads into his system
ne was at times querulous and would argue
vehemently when the soundness OF his tudg-
ment on a race was disputed Pittsbure
was not as fond Of favorites as Dwyer, but
like his great rival there was nothing that
occurred during the running OF a race that
A.fl
whether he was betting or not he al
WAYS watched the horses run, and there
was nothing thas occurred during that race
that was not put away in a corner Of his
marvelously retentive mind for future use.
He played fewer races than Dwyer, going
on the theory, always sound In any country,
that the man who tries to beat every race
has only one sight in view-bankruptcy
sure and certain. When he had viewed the
possibilities of the various candidates In a
race from all points and made up his mind
that a certain horse could win, nobody
could talk him out OF betting on the
chances Of that particular horse or mare
.'Ffe was cunning to degree In his
methods, and Il is on record that he has
through his agents wagered as much a.
AOO on horse in race In order to
misiead his sworn enemies the book
makers. When the deluded penclhefs hao
offered a sufficiently tempting figure
against the horse Pittsburg really wanted
TO wager on, his money appeared mosl
mysteriously He had many confidential
batting agents or commissioners, but was
constantly sprlnging surprises on the fra
ternlty in the shape OF fresh recruits.
1T is said that a burnt child breads the
nre. II was true saying so far as the
bookmakers were concerned, for they had
such wholesome respect for the young
piungers judgment that they cut the price
the moment It was apparent that It was
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