The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-20
---- THEY BET THEIR SHIRTS NO -- Pittsburgh Phil Exception Proving Rule; Coolest M0n At Track Beat The Races
THEY BET THEIR SHIRTS
First of . series.
 By NED BROWN NEA Stan Correspondent

0~~~~N
 With totalizators clicking of box car figures and then some-New York has topped $S,50oy00O in an afternoon -punters are reminded of plungers.
 The most fabulous of these was George E. Smith, a tight-lipped, dapper little man who as g young ster in Pittsburgh quit cutting cork to bet first on baseball and then the bangtails.
 Outgrowing the pool rooms of his native city, Smith showed up in Chicago.
 Dom OMalley, bookmaker, looked up as a stranger showed $5000 through the wicker window and des- ignated a horse.
 "Name?" he asked. Smith, came the reply. Phil Smith"
 We have another bettor by that name," said O'Malley. "Wher're you fromT Pittsburgh" answered Smith.
 "Okeh," came back OrMalley. Pittsburgh Phil is down for $6000."
 Thus 1t was that as Pittsburgh Phil George E. Smith around the turn of the century stirred the im- agination with the most prodigious betting in history and inaugurated systems of wagering in use today. BET $2,5OO, 900 IN SEASON
 Pittsburgh Phil-he died in 1905 at 45-was one of the mighty few exceptions proving the rule. He ac- tually beat the races-consistently gave them sound shellacking, as matter of fact.
 In single season, 1897, Pittsburgh Phil wagered $2,500,000, and he stuck around to disprove the old saying, "All hoss players must die broke" by leaving a fortune of almost that much.
 It was commonplace for him to win or lose $50,000 a day. He won $100, 900 on his own horse, Parvenue, which he backed down from 10 to 3 to 1. He won $o6, 900 on his King Cadmus in one outing. The fellow chucked 1t in. He had only one losing season, 1896, when he dropped $80,000.
 SCREENED HIS OPERATIONS
 There was no such a thing as luck with Pittsburgh Phil. He made up his mind, backed his opinion to the limit, paid no attention to anybody else. His Defargilla cost his $1iO,0OO in bets. Pittsburgh Phil was secretiye about his operations. took pains to screen them from boolmakers and other bettors. Tn putting over a coup on the bookmakers at the course, he used as many as 10 bet ting commissioners, disguised them as bankers, street car conductors. laborers, country yokels.
 Pittsburgh Phil preferred his own Jockeys. He discovered Tod Sloan In San Francisco, took him to New York and won fortues backing his mounts. He invariably had a rider working with him when he was lay- Ing 1t in-the immortal Sloan. Sam Doggett, Fred Taral-but there was never Q hint of anything crooked. He was just making sure. They don't pay of on bad rides. FIRST TO HANDICAP HORSES
 Pittsburgh Phil was first to hand.- cap horses on past performances.
 The coolest man at the track. he never smoked or drank. He was coolest of all when the important money was riding. He smiled for the first time-ever so slightly when Doggett barely got Parvenue down in front in a terrific drive with $l00,000 riding for his owner.
 My horse won by short head" remarked Pittsburgh Phil.
 His biggest thrill was winning the Brooklyn Handicap with Howard Mann in 1897. His Belmar beat the renowned Hastings to account for the Ocean Handicap at a mile in 1:41, good time in those days.
 Surmounting George E. Smiths grave in Pittsburgh is a statue of him studying form chart. of heaven.