New Britain herald., 1926-07-10
(BY ROY J. G1BBoNs)

Aurora, H., July 10.-When the call 10 arms sounded at the out break of the Civil war, Tom Cheeks, then a full grown man, who had been born in the very cradle of the Confederacy at Warrenton, Va, girded on his sword and rode away behind the flying colors of Stewards cavalrymen.
 He vas astride a proud black stoeI that rared and dashed into the thckest the thickest of many fray before the bitter struggle ended and brought to Tom retirement to his acres and such love and thorough understanding of horses Chat it seemed he was enchanted.
 Horses became his chief interest. He was in love with them. He talked about them. Dreamed about them. And never was so happy a.s when he was with them.
 And so, with this lure urging him on, it vas only natural that Tom should follow the turf. Today, at 1o1, he is the oldest proprietor of string Of horses and the oldest race track follower in the country.
 Takes in Fairs Derbies
 Year in and out old Tom, who is both grandfather and great grand father several times over, travels about the country to the various fairs and derby events, and with him go his horses.
 jo.ir,, ,,,I,o Irno-r l. as Pop" he is the grand old man of racing. His word is the word of q gentleman. It has never been broken and Toms one great delight is to throw a "harpoon into the bookies," as he expresses it.
 Sometimes he wins and some- times he loses. But the result is always the same to him.
 He makes just enough to live on and enough to care and feed his horses, who come to him when he bcckons and seem to know that he loves them.
 Horses are still his passion ana delight The quivering, sensitive horsenesh in his stables is his one pastime.
 On bent cane and with slightly cnfeebled step Pop" does the nightly rounds to the stables 10 see that his precious ones are con- fortably bedded in.
 He talks softly to them as father might to q child.
 "Heah, boy, how are you now?" he asks in a quiet, understanding tone
 A whinny of affection is his reply and the old man smiles.
 Ted" His Prize Horse
 Hie prize horse is q 10-year-old named Rcd" who came in first in q local classic here the other day, giving the old man his first victory ef the season.
 A plot presumed to have been matched by gamblers almost killed "E@d' not so long ago when poison was put in bis feed.
 Why anyone should try 10 kill q horse simply to make money through gambling is beyond Pops" comprehension.
 Ii is beyond the pale Of his code of love. Pop" never even laid whip on any horse he has ever owned or ridden.
 Honest Victory Only
 On q windy day you can see him. centcnar3an whiskcrs flying to the breeze and pale, watery eyes | dimmcd with their hundred and one years of seeing life and horses, peer ing steadily out upon the track. | waiting for the thrill that is ever a | new thrill. i
 ITO win, ah. yes" says the old | man. Victory is sweet at any age. | lt is the warmth that keeps old veins alive. But victory. unless it is honest victory is unspeakable."
 Round go the ponies; life and youth are in their flying hoofs, and on the sidelines with crooked back watches Pop" the country'e oldest turfman
 Soon his own race win be over and he knows it. But his life has been gaited to win by the goal post