Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1922-05-10
'27 THOROUGHBREDS DIE
IN Big STABLE FIRE
Practically All of Camden's Rae
ing Stable Wiped Out When
Lightning Strikes Barn,

Lexington, KY, May 10-Twen
ty-seven thorobred race horses
owned by former United States
Senator Johnson N. Camden and
J. Cal Milan, perished last night
at 8 o'clock when fire, caused by
lightning destroyed the Milan
stable at the Kentu. Jockey
Clubs Lexington track.
The horses lost were valued
roughly at between $300,O00 and
$50O,00O, with little insurance.
The building was valued at ap-
proximately $4,000.
Among the horses burned to
death in the flaming stable were
Senator Camden's Rangoon and
Darjeeling, both notable sprint
ers, now four years which had
not started this year, and his Bet
tina, a four-year-old mare by
Light Brigade-Ecatarina, which
which was entered in the Camden
Handicap today.
Mr.. Milam's Little Sally, a val
liable two year old filIy which
ran yesterday afternoon was lost.
ISenator Camden's two-year-olds
principally the get Of Peter
| Ounce and Light Brigade, and
valuable two year olds owned by
Mr.. Milan, also perished. Mr..
Milan trained all the horses OF
Senator Camden in addition to
those he owned.
Mojave, considered one Of the
best two years olds in the West,
which was the favorite in the Idle
Houh Stakes yesterday and ran
second to Prince K, escaped but
was severely burned and may not
be fit for racing. Two hllies by
Peter Ounce, one out of Sticn
Pin and the other out Of Eden
Hall, were rescued. Louis Adair
an older racer, also was saved.
Golden Apple, colt by Light
! Brigade-Atlanta, owned by Sena-
[ tor Camden, which had started in
the Lexington meeting, was re-
ported to have escaped and run
away, but had not been captured
last night.
Lightning struck the building
shortly after eight O'Clock. The
bolt was seen by a negro night
NaesAMan employed by Mr.. Mi
lam. The nightwatchman was
sitting on the porch of the jock
| ey's house, near the horse barn,
and saw the bolt flash during the
electrical shower at that hour,
and the stable Immediately burst
into flames.
i The nightwatchman gave an
alarm and several employees of
the stables at the course gave
aid.
Track Superintendent J. M.
Keegan heard the cries of fire.
and took charge.
| The wooden stable was engulf-
ed in flames before the men gath
cred around it. Seeing that it was
only possible to save those horses
in the end stalls, Mr.. Keegan
rushed into the flaming building
and while water was being
thrown on the walls succeeded in
releasing some g. halters.
i The animals released, screaming
wildly, dashed madly from the
stalls and into the open, where
they were captured.
/ The frantic screams OF the
splendid thoroughbreds could be
heard for blocks as the horses
died in the flames. The remains
showing that stalls had been kick
ed to pieces, gave evidence OF
the courageous efforts with
which some of the most valuable
thoroughbreds i'll the United
States met their death.
| The flames leaped fully 100 feet
above the burning roof and scat
tered the track and adjoining
buildings with cinders and burn
ing wood. Many of the 6remen
were scorched in the flames and
it was impossible, after the roof
had fallen, for spectators to go
within IS feet of the scene on ac-
count of the extreme heat.
Senator Camden owned 20 of
the thoroughbreds and Mr.. Mi
lam the remainder.