Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-09

118 Wait Bit 127 on Bossuet The result the
first and only triple dead heat in stakes history and there is
scarcely Eighth New York. between Forty
and Fieh streets that hasn't picture Of that finish
display It's beginning to rival the of Clusters Last
Stand.
JOHN BLANKS CAMPBELL not what you would call
familiar figure around the tracks unless you knew
where to look for him. which in the racing secrearys
office He large owlish who spoke softly but
carried big stick which he welded without partaty when
necessary.
Owners Of big stables Campbell had
the added advantage hearing aid Most Of the time he
quick with the dial that whenever owner put
fearful act regards weights, Mr. Campbell able to
remain in the dark to why the gentleman crying
Occasionally however wasn't quick enough, like the
day in 1912 just before the Butler Handicap at Empire City
Ben Jones had the Calumet string the grounds Whraway
included and Campbell fearessy assigned 1872 pounds to the
tailed wonder. day two before the jones'
who had argued with Campbell in the past on weights
Stormed into his Office.
CAMPBELL MAY HAVE HAD his hearing aid tuned to
another frequency-or he may not have it this
he couldn't hear Jones well and he assumed that
complaining about the weight Whirly. AS
matter of fact Jones grped about burden put on Calumet
fly running in ordinary
Finally Jones shouted eff I can't get fair deal here
I'll take my horses to Chicago!"
Campbell heard that threat despite his deafness and
replied characterstcally go ahead Take them where
you damn please"
Whirlaway beaten by in the Butler by lola
Rose pounds did, indeed his string to
Chicago This said to inspired Campbels counter
move p1nnlng towel his off1ce door.
"For and trainers to cry into" John Blanks
explained succnctly t.s -
GREATEST OF ALL handcappers, Campbell always
insisted, Edward w. Magnn, under whom he studied
late Palmer racing writer and close friend
Of Campbell wrote this story repeated in his fine book s
Was Racing:
"Once at Latonia (th many many years ago. there
with horse named Solar Star. Magnn put 1875
him in handicap and he out Of the money That
went all through the meeting with the trainer crying
Init ndS on Star
they to the last handicap at the meeting Well it
the chance here Solar STAR winner by four
lengths under 1876 pounds Maginn had made him try
Maginn died about 1914 and Campbell moved up among
the racing His first big notices result
of his work the Maryland tracks the late 920s By 81 he
racing secretary and Handicapped Bowie then he moved
to New York so when MacPha took Bowie he
acquired Campbell to do his handcappng job which John
Blanks later vacated because he too busy.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT 1t came out "John Banks
Campbell in the sporting but the middle always
Blanks taken from legendary Mississippi River boat
figure of the Civil War period It appeared to bother
the quietly humorous Handicapped who preferred to display
ashray upon which had been mounted of the shoes
Tom Fool while winning the 1852 Brooklyn Handicap
Campbell had assigned 1876 pounds to Tom Fool pretty
staggering these days and still he CoOwners John Hay
Whitney and Mrs Charles Shpman Payson pleased by the
victory and attered by Campbes mpost presented the
gadget to the Handicapped who racing people say was the
absolute best.