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FORTUNATE IUBFMES. Thoro was a time when George E. Smith, known to turfmen as "Pittsburg Phil," was -considered the moot remarkable plunger in Amorica. Bat of late "Pittsburg" has been compelled to take a back seat in favor of the . noted owner and bettor, David Gideon. It was only last Friday that Gidoon successfully backed five out of sis winners at Bennings and took, it is said, 0,CC0 out of the layers satchels. In round numbers, it is estimated that Gideons runnings thiB year will amount to about 3180,000. Of course, he has dropped some big money during the campaicn on local tracks, but his coups have netted him enough to keep the wolf away from the door for many moona to come. Gideon haB a long string of thoroughbreds. Some of them run in his own name, while others, generally reputed to bo his property, run in the names of owners closely identified with him. Indeed there has been ncuch talk among horse-sun this year against this vory practice, but . Gideon, as well aB others, has nevGr paid serious attention to the criticism. It was not until the autumn meeting at Sheepshead Bay that Gideon made himself felt in the betting ring. Ha entered his two-year-old filly Josepha in a race and so little was known of her that as high as 40 to 1 was quoted in some books. Gideons commissioners got to work rapidly. They began by putting down small beta so as not to attract attention and then when the price fell they planked the money down so confidently that Josephas closing price was 3 to 1. The filly simply walked home and Gideon cleaned up close to 0,000 on this victory alone. During the Gravesend meeting Gideon cloaned up 0,000 on the victory of his two-year-old colt Carrington, which ran in James McLaughlins name and colors. When August Belmonts Nam tor won his first race at liberal odds, Gideon picked up 5,000 in bets. Another victory by Josepha notted a handsome sum. But at Aqueduct recently this same Josepha fooled Gideon more than anybody else. She was entered in a selling race and Gideon bet heavily on another starter. Josephas odds went up rapidly to 40 to 1 in some books, which showed that Gideon was "not down," as the layers say. Josepha, however, won in a gallop while Gideon and his friends stood down near the judgeB stand and muttered to themselves. These are only a few instances of big bets made by Gideon, but they serve to show that it is not often that he puts down a bet without knowing something from the inside. Gideon is one of the most succ assf ul turfmen in America. Daring his career of fifteen years on the. turf, it is estimated that he has won in stakes, purses and pluDge bets all of a half a million dollars. In his time he has owned a powerful stable with Mb former partner, John Daly. It was His Highness, The Butterflies and Bequital, who carried the colors of Gideon and Daly to victory in the rich Futurity. Bamapo, also owned by them, once captured the Suburban Handicap. Gideon is a quiet, unassuming-looking man whose phlegmatic temperament is a remarkable trait. He knows everybody at tho racetrack and, levorybody knows him. He and Croker are intimate friends. "Is Pittsburg Phil losing his gripl" This question has been repeatedly asked of horsemen of late. That the plunger has lost mnch money lately there can be little doubt. "Pittsburg" admits it himself and so do the bookmakers, who have old scores to settle with the plunger. At one time laBt summer "Pittsburg" declared he had lost twenty-two straight bets, but this statement was generally laughed at by man who said that the veriest novice conldpick . them better than that. But just the same ".Pittsburg" has had a hard year and has decided to go slow for a while. Another plunger who has cut a conspicuous figure this year is "Davy" Johnson, the bookmaker. Johnson haB been training in with Gideon, and that has meant much to him. Johnson has made books at all the big tracks, bat that has not prevented him from jumping from his stool and dashing around making heavy wagers. He haB bean nest to many a good thing and has enjoyed heavy profits. Take all together, the layers have had some pretty hard times. George Wheelock is a heavy winner on the year, however, his election bets on Low amounting to a email fortuno. Eddie Burke, on the other hand, has been a Bteady loser, hie friends say, but he is pegging away day in and day out to gat his losses back. Burke for some time has seemed to be up against Old Hard Luck. On Thursday last he made a "swell" bet that Buhlin would defeat Jefferies, though he muBt have known that the champion looked a sure thing on past performances. John E. Madden has ako enjoyed a phenomenal year. In fact, he leads all owners in this respect. In stake events Maddens horses won for bim nearly as much as W. G. Whitneys horses did. Bat Madden palled off namerous coups during the year that yielded fa; bank rolls from the bookies who took liberties with the well-known trainers entries. City Bank and Pentecost were two of the good things uncorked by Madden; also Gunfire and Yankee. In addition to stakes and bets, Madden made a fortuno in selling two-year-olds to differont mii- j lionaires. While no official announcement was made, it was common talk at the time that Madden received from W. C. Whitney for Yankee and Blue Girl close to 0,000. He sold Heno to Clarence H. Mackay for 2,000 and disposed of others for good prices. All things considered, Madden enjoyed one of the beBt seasons of his career aB a turfman. New York Sun.
