The New York herald., 1922-12-26
Tom Healey Loses Sight
Looking for Colt in Stake
Campfres Sleepy Appearance Before Futurity and
Excitement Following Remarks of Racegoers
Affect Veteran Trainers Optic Nerves.

who had been watching .he colt silently
for some time. said the colt was m,'re
quiet than usual and aske1 his trainer
IL he thought there was anything wrong
with him. Mr. Healey replied in The
negative but as he said later he wasn't
telling all the truth. His opinion had
changed. He believed there was some-
thing the matter with him. He didn't
know what. but he had come to the con-
clusion that the colt was too quiet to be
ready to win such hard contest espe-
cially since he had to race from the fut-
side position
whip Fails to Wake Him.
On the track McTaggart followed
instructions and gave Campfire
couple of cracks of the whip to wake
him up. Even this didn't have the de-
sired effect and the colt logged UP the
long straightaway with what seemed
like laborous stride. His trainer
saw this and his hope Of winning the
stake vanished.
Accompanied by group Of friendly
horsemen and his son, Jock. Mr.. Healey
went to the top of the stand. When
the field reached the post he couldn't
locate his charge. Some one handed
him pair Of powerful glasses. Even
these couldn't make him see Campfire.
He saw a flock of horses. but couldn't
distinguish any of them and he re-
turned the glasses.
several times horse bolted through the
barrier. Mr.. Healey didn't see this.
He didn't see anything far up the
stretch. His friends, some without
glasses, told him what was occurring.
They told Of the Righteousness OF one
colt and then another, but always
added Campfire is standing there as
quiet as a hobby horse"
The Wilson colt was near the outer
rail and it could be seen that each time
a horse went through the barrier Nc
Taggart urged his mount up against
the rail until his side almost touched 1t.
This puzzled the horsemen until one
of them observed that the Jockeys foot
was resting on the top Of the rail.
McTaggart's Wise Move.
Realizing that his mount was carrying
top weight. Johnny decided to make
his burden as light as possible during
the long waits and put his foot on the
rail to take the weight off Of his colt.
After a long delay Mars Cassidy got
the field away on even terms. Camp
fire broke on his toes. The men
around Mr.. Healey shouted Your colts
in 'front.' but Mr.. Healey couldn't find
him. At the furlong pole they said
he was "All by himself" That meant
he had good lead. but it might have
meant he was far in the rear so far
as his trainer could sec. "Campfirs
wins easily" they told him when the
quarter pole was reached and added
that he was far in front and running
easily.
BY this time probably every one of the
$4,000 persons present. except his
trainer saw Campfire winning, The
old gold and green silks were flashing
in the sun far away from any of the
colors
Then came the final furiong pole in
front of the stand. At that point there
was no doubt of the result and Mr..
Hcaley's friends began TO mob him in
their exhilaration. They thumped his
back flung his hat in the air and nearly
broke his fingers shaking his hand. Still
Mr.. Healey couldn't find his colt. He
saw some horse in front, but couldn't
recognize IT, He confided this to his
son. This remark caused Jock to point
his finger and blurt out. There he is
in front pop" Then for the first time
during the race Mr.. Healey saw his pet
charge. Then followed the most sensa-
tional feeling the veteran trainer ever
experienced on the turf After getting
passing glimpse of Campfire his eyes
hit on Mr.. Whitney's light blue silks on
Rickety and he could see nothing else
and he saw Rickety catch Campfire and
win easily. II was not until the official
0hers were posted and his friends
gathered to offer congratulations that
he realized he had won.
After receiving congratulations from
his wife, daughters and Mr. Wilson in.
the paddock the excited trainer hurried
to the restaurant and made 1t an 'open
house"
Intoxicating liquor never touched Mr..
treaiev's lips: neither did tobacco. hut
he said yesterday that he was strongly
temnted after that race to drink all the
wine In the country and TO smoke all the
big black cigars Harry Stevens had at
the track