DRF Feature about Pittsburgh Phil

[fpsoxfan]

Here's a piece I found, including some of his Saratoga experiences.

“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!