PILLOW EIGHT AMISS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 121, 25 May 1933, Page 13

PILLOW EIGHT AMISS

SOME INTERNAL TROUBLE

The, cables have been silent as to the health of Pillow Fight in America during the past couple; of months, but according to the latest "Collyer's Weekly the gelding was in a bad way after his second race in America, but continued to be raced afterwards till it was clear that he would not come right. •■■■' '--1,," It is interesting to note that lie lias been suffering'from "some internal trouble." It is probably lucky for- his connections that he did not possess the wonderful constitution that Phar Lap had, otherwise he might have followed the same route out of mundane existence before the symptoms of his ailment were finally given the nOtiee. they deserved. A few days after his second race on March 18 there earne an early morning summons from the New Zealander's barn for Dr. G. W, Foelschow, track veterinarian, says the Collyer's article."' Considerable -secrecy : surrounded the call, but haste was urged. Arrived there, Dr. Foelschow found .Morse, Davis, D. Farrell, and a few trusted, employees gathered ; inside the stable. They led him to Pillow Fight's stall, and there ithe veterinarian .found /the'horse down,,writhing;an. convulsive pain, covered with sweat. Dr. Foelschow quickly diagnosed the trouble as locked bowels, and '■• applied heroic remedies, realismg1 that this" was neee»sary if the horse's life was to be saved. For several hours he and the others worked on the suffering animal, and at length their efforts were successful. A little later Pillow Tight was again on his feet. Pillow. Fight,' however, .has. ; never recovered completely from that illness. On March 26 h© went to the post again, running third to Loveruall and Lemon Hills at a mile and twenty yards in linin 40sec. The New. Zealander was beaten by two lengths for the place. This performance practically assured Morse that the horse was*not ready, but lie tried with him once more, on March 29, at a mile and a sixteenth. This time Loversall again won, with' Satin Spar "second, Mad Pursuit third, Rasper fourth/ and Pillow Fight back in fifth place. The time was lmin 44sec. If anything liad been needed to convince Morse that Ms charge had little or no chance to finish in the money in the following Sunday's Caliente, that last race provided theproof. .Morse promptly urged Davis to scratch the racer", but the owner declined to take such drastic action, preferring to wait and see if an3'thing should happen to give his entry a chance. It was indicated that lie might even send PillowFight to the post on the Sunday, gambling 400 dollars against 25,000 dollars."1 ■ ■ - • ■ ' ■;■•'' It was learned, on excellent authority, that Pillow Fight will be taken- north, to some breeding farm, near San Francisco, and be laid up there until he regains Ms full strength and rounds into physical condition. Then he will be taken to the eastern, tracks to campaign, probably going first.to Chicago, and thence to New York, Maryland, and elsewhere. An interesting sidelight on Pillow Fight's illness was given by Dr. Foelschxnv, who said that he is convfneed the racer's - trouble was due to the shift from New Zealand to American feed. -'. < '■ '.•...'•.■ '■: