The New York herald., 1922-12-26
BY HENRY v. KING.

BY HENRY v. KING.
Tom Healey who has had charge of
r. T. Wilson's thoroughbreds for more
than twenty years, has won every
stake of Importance on the Eastern
turf and has saddled more than a
thousand winners but he received
more thrills during one race than all
the others put together. The gigantic
thrill, or set of thrills. came in 1916.
the day Campfire won the Futurity at
Belmont Park. y
So great was his excitement over this
stake that his optic nerves became az
fected and he became temporarily blind.
Mr. Healey is noted on the turf for his
wonderful sight. He never uses field
glass. So keen is his vision that he can
distinguish any horse or any set of colors
on any part of any track. He can tell
his own silks, "old gold and green," a
mile away. On that Futurity day he
couldn't find Campfire in the race until
he was directly in front of him at the
final eighth pole. There he saw him for
an instant The colt was then two
lengths in front of his field and running
easily. But in the next instant the
trainer lost sight of him. He was unable
to follow him the other furlong and he
was sure he was beaten when as mat
ter of fact Campfire won galloplng,
four lengths ahead Of Harry Payne
Whitney's Rickety.
The Champion Sleeper.
There was a good reason for Mr..
Healeys emotions being aroused to dan
ger point that day. Campfire was known
on the turf as the sleepy horse lie
always appeared as if he were sleepy.
In his stable. In the paddock. going TO
the post and in his exercise gallops re
showed as much animation as a twenty
year old pony. Half of the time his eyes
were closed and his stable hands SAID ne
slept twelve hours out of every twenty
four. But In race he was all energy.
The shout vf .'Come ont" by the starter
made him shake Off his lethargy and in
simultaneously become a great race horse.
He liked to race and was the champion
of the year He had won nearly eli his
races and was the favorite for the Fu-
turity.
In the draw for positions he drew the
extreme outside. Until that time no
horse had ever won a big stake out OF
the chute from that position. Naturally
that caused Mr.. Healey and Mr.. wilson
some concern. They were anxious 10
win the rich and coveted stake. but they
were more anxious to prove that lamp
fire was the best juvenile OK the yea
They knew they had a real gooo coit Az,
him. and with good racing luck believed
he would win despite his post position.
Campfire Too Quiet.
But the colt was yet to be groomed
for the stake. and it was during TINS
half hour before the race that MT 1ea-
lev los, control OF his nerves. When his
forernan brought Campfire to the pad
dock the trainer was awaiting him.
hasty examination showed there was
nothing wrong with the colt. He looked
trained to the minute and with his red
head and Chestnut coat shining In the
sun he was a picture horse. But ne was
as docile as an aged dray horse. TO
Tom Healey this meant nothing. camp
fire always was that way and the vet
eran trainer went about his work pre-
paring him for the race. Because the
colt was the favorite thousands gathered
around him All expressed admiration
for him. but fully half of those who in
spected him remarked that he was haii
asleep.
Those words hes half asleex' rang
in his trainers ears. MIR. Haaley dis
missed scores OF such remarks with the
answer. Hes always that way Bu'
veteran horsemen who knew the colt
said he was sleepier looking haa ever.
Mr.. Healey tried to dismiss such a
thotight, but 'he's half asleep kept
buzzing in his ears. He could not get
rid of II and before the bugle called the
field to the post he began to believe hat
what the horsemen said was true-that
the colt was sleepier looking than ever
before and not ready to race his best.
As the bugle sounded hundreds OF race
, goers surrounded the colt. They were
pushing and showing TO get last minute
glimpse Of him. They crowded close 10
him. Almost any other thoroughbred
would have kicked and MANNED several
careless ones. Campfire paid no atten-
tion to any one or anything. Some fool
hardy persons even touched his tail and
quarters Even this didn't annoy aim
He remained half asleep.
As Mr. Healey was throwing .ohnny
McTaggart into the saddle Mr. Wilson