Colins Ghost

Rags to Riches capped off a memorable 2007 Triple Crown series by becoming the first filly to win the Belmont Stake in over 100 years. Harry Payne Whitney’s Tanya was the last filly to win in 1905. That race was historic for more then just Tanya’s victory it was also the first Belmont Stakes held at Belmont Park. Ironically, the first Belmont Stakes run at Jerome Park in 1867 was also won by a filly (Ruthless). Until Rags to Riches heart-pounding stretch run to beat the mighty Curlin, Tanya and Ruthless were the only other fillies to win the oldest of the Triple Crown races.

Belmont Stakes day in 1905 was the final day of the inaugural meeting at the track in Elmont, New York. As we saw in a recent post on Belmont’s opening day, opinion about the new track was less then stellar. At the end of the three week meet feelings about August Belmont’s “English” track had not changed. Here is how Frank Thorpe, the writer for the New York Evening World, wrote about “Big Sandy’s” closing day 1905:

“This was the eighteenth and last day of racing at Belmont Park and it was not noticeable that anyone shed tears of sorrow over the track of English institutions with all the English customs of racing the wrong way around the track. It is easy now for the racegoer to realize the definition of the words – ‘reverse English.’ They have had it here with a vengeance.

“It will actually be worth a dollar more to go to Gravesend where one will be able to see races without the aid of powerful magnifying glasses”

MY COMMENT: The writer is referring here to a recent decision by the Brooklyn Jockey Club to raise admission prices at Gravesend by one dollar. The price hike apparently was connected to the end of fees for bookmakers who had been paying $800,000 a year to the Jockey Club for the right to operate on-track. According to a writer at the time, this $800,000 would be paid by the ‘good sportsman’ who attended the races at Gravesend in Brooklyn.

“This being the last day some of the most interesting stakes were reserved for today. The Eclipse for two-year-olds, had a fine field of youngsters, and the Belmont had a very interesting field of three-year-olds. The Grand National Steeplechase, one of the richest jumping affairs of the year was also on the card. The weather was fine and the track was fast.“

The author continued with a description of each of the days races. The Belmont Stakes was the 4th of 5 races on the day:

“Belmont won by a neck

“Fourth Race – The Belmont: for three-year-olds: $10,000 added: mile and a quarter, Belmont Course. Start good. Won Driving. Time – 2:08 3/5“

“Tanya won the Belmont. This was the same Tanya who was beaten by Pasadena and Voladay the first time she faced the starters. She showed wonderful improvement. Tanya raced right to the front at the start and was soon joined by Wild Mint. These two raced away as if it were a dash, and soon opened up a gap on the field headed by Blandy and Hot Spot.

“They ran this way to the main stretch where Wild Mint stopped. Hot Shot and Brandy then set sail for Tanya and they gradually closed ground on even terms. Hot Shot then tired and Blandy went on after Tanya, finally forcing her to a hot drive in the last sixteenth to win by a neck. Blandy was four lengths away in third place”

Read the full article from the New York Evening World

While the writer from the World spilled more ink ragging on Belmont Park then the Belmont Stakes, the New York Times offered a more historically resonant piece on the actual race. Here is portion of that article from May 25, 1905:

“The Belmont stood out as the feature of the program, chiefly on account of its great value. The race was one worthy of the stakes, the oldest turf fixture of the East, for it brought about a hotly fought finish between Tanya, post favorite, and Blandy, winner of the Withers. Tanya, which made about all the running, living only just long enough to get home first by a short neck, with all the others of the field of seven beaten off. The only other filly that has won a Belmont Stakes being Ruthless, which captured the event on its first running at Jerome Park in 1867. Tanya rated the champion of her age and sex last season, was regarded with doubt by the betting general public when she was installed favorite, as in her only earlier race this season she was beaten badly by Pasadena and Voladay, but the horseman and the Harry Payne Whitney stable had every confidence in the filly to take up her weight and go the mile and quarter course, and she remained first choice though the betting odds of 2 to 1…”

Read the full article at New York Time archives

Next Week: Colin wins the Belmont

IN OTHER NEWS

Colin’s Ghost is now a proud member of the Thoroughbred Blogger’s Alliance. I encourage you to check out some of their other excellent blogs in the drop down menu at the top of the page or visit the TBA website. If it is racing history you like many of the members post on the history of the game. The Brooklyn Backstretch has done a number of excellent articles on the history of New York stakes races and other topics. The Superfecta blog recently posted a little history of the Preakness.

Sorry to hear about Nashoba’s Key…I really enjoyed watching her run.

From an historical perspective, the 2008 Belmont Stakes is like being 5 deep going into the last leg of a pick four. A Triple Crown for Big Brown or an even more impressive triple for the broodmare Better then Honour. I think it will be one or the other and am really looking forward to it. But the Belmont is still a few weeks away so in the meantime, how about a look at the founding father of horseplayers: George E. Smith aka “Pittsburg Phil.”

If you are a horseplayer you should be familiar with Pittsburg Phil. His handicapping methods and approach to playing the horses laid a foundation for all handicapping books that followed. The “maxims” of Pittsburg Phil were originally compiled three years after his death (1908) by turf writer Edward Cole in a book published under the title: “Racing maxims and methods of “Pittsburg Phil” (George E. Smith) : condensed wisdom of twenty years experience on the track from the most successful speculator in the history of the American turf from the only personal interviews ever given by the famous horseman.” One of the early editions of the book (possibly the first) was published by a place called the Prosperity Institute! No kidding.

Take a look at the Railbird blog for a list of Pittsburg Phil’s maxims. It is amazing how many of his handicapping ideas have withstood the test of time about money management, class angles, horse for courses, trainer and jockey considerations, pace handicapping, etc. In addition, he lays out a number of ideas related to maintaining a good state of mind while at the track, for example: “The minute that a man loses his balance on the race track he is like a horse that is trying to run away.” One gets a sense from the obituaries that Pittsburg Phil was one cool customer.

The New York Times and the Digital Newspaper Collection at the Library of Congress have obituaries available online of the great horseplayer (including one under the headline: “The Wasted Life.” A negative obituary…imagine that). I have provided links to some of these online sources at the bottom of the page.

Here is one of those obituaries published in The Los Angeles Herald, February 2, 1905:

“FAMOUS TURF PLUNGER, PITTSBURG PHIL, DIES

“George E. Smith, better known as Pittsburg Phil, died yesterday at Asheville, N. C. The famous turf plunger, fever-stricken, passed away at the age of forty years.

“Bookmakers who have been questioned agree that none of the big bettors of today and none of the students of the race tracks can be classed with the late Pittsburg Phil. They give credit to Phil for being the greatest player the ring has ever known.

“Much money as he has won from them they delight in telling of his amazing plunges and of the tricks he played on them.

“Wrought up by the ruling passion that has made his name a byword on every race course in this country, the great plunger picked winners in phantom races, as he lay delirious and near death’s door at the sanitarium at Asheville.”

MY COMMENT: A similar story of Phil’s death bed “wagers” can be found in Jimmy Breslin’s biography of Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons.

“‘Pittsburg Phil’ was the coolest and most calculating man the American turf has ever known. No man could ever discern from his facial expression or action whether he bet a cigar or a fortune on a race.

“Sphinx-like he would watch his favorites come down the stretch. If he won there would be as little trace of animation on his stoic face as there would be signs of disappointment if he lost. No one could read his mind, his hopes or his fears.

“Just before his death there was reaction in Asheville. As he lay upon his bed of fever he wildly called upon his horses in imaginary races, pleaded with them, cried to them and then fell back upon his pillow weakened by his frenzy shouting words of victory.

“Men who have marveled at this once self-possessed man recall how he lost $285,000 up to the last three days of the Saratoga meeting in August, 1902. Two days before the meeting closed he won heavily on his own horse, Brunswick, at 6 to 1 to show. The next day he went through the betting ring and played Belle of Lexington and won enough to almost put him even. That same afternoon he plunged heavily on Charley Ellison’s Skillful at the good odds of 20 to 1 and cleaned up money enough in the three days’ play to net him $290,000. Even that winning affected his stone-like face no more than if it had been so many cents.”

NOTE: To put that amount of money in perspective, $290,000 would be the equivalent of winning 7 million dollars in 2008!

“The dead plunger started his career in a saddlery shop in Pittsburg by playing the horses in the poolrooms. He soon began attending the races and gradually worked himself up to a notch where he was looked upon as one of the wisest men on the turf.

“Several years later he branched out as an owner and had in his employ the well known jockey Willie Shaw, whom he picked up at New Orleans. Phil owned such good horses as Chilton and Brunswick when he was in his prime. He was known as the bookmaker’s enemy.

“He leaves a mother and a sister, Pittsburg Phil was a visitor at Ascot last year.”

See and read the original at Library of Congress

SOURCES

There are a number of places online to find highly entertaining primary sources about Pittsburg Phil. The digital archives of the Brooklyn Eagle and the New York Times will produce hundreds of hits. The Library of Congress Digital Newspapers Project is another good source. I have provided some direct links to additional obituaries from the Library of Congress below. All of these obits have varied stories of the famous “plunger”. Check them out (I am not 100% sure these links will work. Let me know if they don’t.):

“PITTSBURG PHIL” IS DEAD OF CONSUMPTION; Famous Race Track Plunger Expires at Asheville. VAIN SEARCH FOR HEALTH George E. Smith, Who Started Life at $10 a Week, Once Won $87,000 on a Single Race”, New York Times, Feb 1, 1905. (Might need a NYT account for this…it is free)

Hopkinsville Kentuckian, March 9, 1905

Pittsburg Phil, Noted Plunger, Passes Away, The San Francisco Call, February 2, 1905

Remarkable Career of Pittsburg Phil, Washington Times, February 2, 1905

The Wasted Life, Washington Times, February 2, 1905

There is no wiki page for Pittsburg Phil….I am hoping to remedy this major oversight in the next few weeks. I wonder how the wiki police will feel about a page for a “degenerate” horseplayer.

The book published in 1908 is still in print and can be purchased from the Gambler’s Book Shop in Las Vegas

Looking for a good inflation calculator? Here you go

When thinking about the history of the Pimlico Special most would think of the 1938 match race between War Admiral and Seabiscuit. However, the first Pimlico Special was held a year before as part of a ’stake-a-day’ fall meeting organized by Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Pimlico’s 25-year-old majority stockholder and president. Racing historian Tim Capps wrote of Vanderbilt, “he didn’t fit the genre of the old money crowd…He had a sense of what the fans wanted. He understood the value of promotion. He was willing to take chances.” His stake-a-day meeting was one of the many innovative ideas that Vanderbilt brought to ‘Old Hilltop’ in an effort to attract better horses and bigger crowds.

The Washington Post reported on Pimlico’s Stake-a-Day meeting on October 31, 1937:

“Tomorrow will witness the opening of Pimlico’s much heralded ’stake a day’ meeting, a meeting in fact which may be called a roundup of champions. In the 11 stakes to be decided within ten days the champion of every division is represented, including War Admiral, Seabiscuit, and Menow.

My comment: “A roundup of champions” at the end of the calender year — you can’t help but think of this meet as an early incarnation of what would become the Breeders Cup.

“Exactly when these leaders will go post-ward is uncertain as all three are entered in at least two stake events; War Admiral and Seabiscuit are scheduled to meet each other in the Riggs and the Bowie with the possibility of War Admiral being favored in the Pimlico Special…”

“If War Admiral goes in the Pimlico Special, which is for 3-year-olds exclusively and will be run on Wednesday, he will most likely have to meet Heefly, Burning Star, Eagle Pass, Delloe, Strabo, and War Minstrel.

“In the three and upward class the handicap champion, Seabiscuit, will most likely face Calumet Dick, War Admiral, Cabellero II, Fair Knightess, Burning Star and host of others.”

“On three mornings of the 10 day meeting the track will be the scene of more than just the usual routine. On Friday November 5, there will be a race for gentlemen riders over the flat; on Saturday, Futurity Day, there will be a parade of Maryland stallions, and on Monday there will be the auction of the stable of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, who has announced his retirement from racing.”

The fourth day of the stakes series featured the Pimlico Special with the Triple Crown winner War Admiral scaring away much of the competition.

Bill Benning, handicapper and author of the “At the Post” column in the Washington Post, reported the day before the first Pimlico Special (November 3, 1937):

“War Admiral goes again today providing that track conditions do not change before post time. The champion meets horses of his own age in the $7,500 Pimlico Special and despite top impost of 128 pounds promises to continue his winning streak. He gives away from 13 to 30 pounds and with few exceptions he meets horses which have finished behind him before. Trainer George Conway had him on the track this morning and the Man O’ War colt stepped a half in .51. It was reveled that War Admiral has been named for the $50,000 Widener Challenge Cup and the $100,000 Santa Anita Handicap. Both events are on March 5 and the Riddle forces will choose one of those races soon. This will be the first time that the Glen Riddle Farm has raced in winter in years and is concrete evidence that the Owner Riddle intends to send War Admiral after Sun Beau’s all-time money-winning crown. War Admiral will be going the distance he prefers today–a mile and three sixteenths–the same route at which he won the Preakness here.”

It is interesting that no mention is made about War Admiral running in the two races for older horses mentioned in the other article. War Admiral had won two races for ‘3 and up’ in his previous two starts at Laurel Park on October 26th and 30th (an allowance race and the Washington Handicap). These were his first two starts since winning the Belmont Stakes in June.

Here is an advertisement from the Post for a bus trip from D.C. to Pimlico on the day of the race. Notice that it refers to the race as the “War Admiral Special.”:

As expected, War Admiral won the inaugural Pimlico Special. However, not as impressively as expected. Washington Post correspondent Walter Haight wrote the following about the race:

“War Admiral will not race again this year.

“This announcement was made tonight by Samuel D. Riddle owner of the 3-year-old champion, following the Admiral’s poor showing in winning the Pimlico Special this afternoon. Trainer George Conway will be given a two-month vacation.

“War Admiral won by default. Belying his title of ’super-horse’ the son of Man o’ War felt the sting of the whip and eked out a victory only because one of his three rivals ran to the outside fence at the turn into the stretch. Appearing anything but a champion, War Admiral came to the finish line a length and a half in advance of Masked General heretofore obscure 3-year-old which ran a half city block further than the son of Man o’ War.

“In trouble for the first time in his career despite the vest pocket field. War Admiral did not handle himself in his accustomed superior fashion and was trailing what appeared to be a potential winner by a length in a half entering the stretch. Unable to get to the front at any stage until presented with the lead, War Admiral was doing his best until the final 20 yards of the 1 3/16 miles race.

Low Odds Set Record

“War Admiral went to the post one of the shortest favorites in Maryland history. The lights on the approximate odds board were turned off when the price shrunk below 1 to 9 and was announced that the colt was 1 to 20. By paying a $2.10 mutuel to win and the same to place, the lowest prices possible under the State’s mutuel law, the track was forced to dig into the ‘breakage’ to make up the difference.

“Jockey Charlie Kurtsinger, who was ridden War Admiral in all his starts, said after the race that the 3-year-old champion failed to get into the stride until the stretch. According to the jockey, War Admiral was not getting into firm footing and the ground broke from under him. However, War Admiral appeared to be in his usual good condition when returned to the winner’s circle.

“Despite the fact that few race fans believed that there was a chance in a million of War Admiral being extended, the program drew a crowd of 15,000 and $57,487 was wagered on the feature event. Regardless of how he won, War Admiral ran his winning streak to eight straight and virtually clinched the money-making title for the year he added $5,589 to his earnings bringing his total to $160,820 for the year.

My comment: A crowd of 15,000 might seem modest but remember the race was held on a Thursday afternoon in November.

Had Inside Position

“War Admiral’s time for the race was 1:58 4/5 a fraction over the track record and two-fifths of a second slower than his Preakness victory over the same ground last spring.

“As had been the case since the start of the year. War Admiral did not start between horses. This time he had the inside post position, the same spot from which he began the Preakness. The original field of ten had shrunk to seven after scratch time this morning and three others dodged the issue later.

“Only Masked General, War Minstrel, and Bottle Cap lined up with the champion and Masked General was the longest shot of the quartet. War Admiral post actions were usual. He pushed against two starters and lunged forward at every opportunity. However, when the starting bell came he was not making his usual dive. Instead he began sort of flat-footed.

“War Minstrel lunged to the front at the break and War Admiral appeared to lug out, soon finding himself between War Minstrel and Bottle Cap. As these three went toward the clubhouse turn, Masked General was full of run and had his head up on the flank of War Admiral. Perhaps feeling that Masked General, a habitual runner-outer, would lunge, Jockey Eccaro was forced to take up the colt, losing several lengths.

Admiral Drops Back

“War Admiral failed to do the expected when he did not go though between his rivals, instead he dropped back as War Minstrel became a definite leader turning into the back stretch. Bottle Cap soon dropped out of it, but Masked General taking the long way around moved on the outside midway into the back stretch. It was at this point that Kurtsinger went to the whip for the first time in War Admiral’s career. The champion failed to respond noticeably to the punishment but ran steadily.

“War Minstrel then began to fade, like a shot, Masked General went to the top and gradually opened a lead. There were groans from the stands. Wasn’t War Admiral doing his best and under punishment at that? Wasn’t Masked General running rather easily and not under punishment?

“The came the ‘break’ that spelled victory for War Admiral. When Eccard tried to turn Masked General’s head to swing into the stretch, the colt failed to answer the bit. Across the track he went with Eccard standing in the stirrups, pulling futiley on the left rein. It was only as the outside fence loomed in front of him that Masked General swung into the straightaway. Meanwhile, Kurtsinger made the turn with War Admiral and he was now in front some three lengths ahead.

“Eccard rallied Masked General some, but inside the sixteenth pole Kurtsinger looked back and then began taking in the reins.”

The final comment on War Admiral and the inaugural Pimlico Special came in Bill Benning’s “At the Post” column two days after the race:

“Trainer George Conway said this morning that War Admiral and other members of the Glen Riddle Stable will be sent to the farm at Berlin, Md. on Monday…Willie Doyle patrol judge at the turnout of the backstretch said that he thought War Admiral would have overhauled Masked General even if the latter had run true and not bore out. Doyle said War Admiral had just started to run when he left the backstretch. Jockey Charlie Kurtsinger reported that War Admiral was inclined to loaf in the early stages, but when he struck him at the five-eighths pole, the champion began running. Kurtsinger said that Masked General began bearing out leaving the backstretch.”

The Pimlico Special was the last race in Admiral’s undefeated 3-year-old season. Six of those eight races were held at Maryland tracks (2 at Havre de Grace, 2 at Laurel, and 2 at Pimlico). The only two outside of the state: The Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

War Admiral’s return to Berlin, Maryland ended the possibility of a 1937 meeting with Seabiscuit. Seabiscuit would race at Pimlico two days after War Admiral on November 5th, winning the Riggs Handicap. Six days later on November 11th he would race again, losing by a nose to Esposa in the Bowie Handicap.

POSTSCRIPT

By 1939, just two years after its first running, Time Magazine wrote:

“Most racing experts did not give the Pimlico Special an outside chance to attain the prestige of a World Series or a Rose Bowl. By last week, however, the Pimlico Special (a weight-for-age affair at a mile-and-three-sixteenths for three-year-olds and up) was recognized as the annual post-season race that determines the U. S. thoroughbred champion. Some 25,000 turf fans crammed into Pimlico’s mid-Victorian stands to see if this year’s Special would be as dramatic as the first two.” Read the full article…

SOURCES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

‘At the Post with Bill Bennings’, Washington Post, November 3, 1937
‘At the Post with Bill Bennings’, Washington Post, November 5, 1937
‘Stakes-a-Day Card is Set for Pimlico,’ Washington Post, October 31, 1937
‘War Admiral Out Rest of Year; Wins ‘Special”, Washington Post, November 4, 1937
‘War Admiral is favored in ‘Special”, Washington Post, November 3, 1937

The wiki page for the Pimlico Special includes a list of winners and a brief history of the race.

James Eisenberg’s excellent Native Dancer: Grey Ghost, Hero of the Golden Age provides details on the life of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (the Dancer’s owner) and his prominent role as a racing executive and horse owner during the 20th century

A highly recommend the entertaining tribute to Washington Post race writer Walter Haight at the National Turf Writers Association site.