Monticello miracle dies

Don Karkos, who received an inordinate amount of media attention back in December when it was learned that from a bump on the head from a trotter named My Buddy Chimo the sight was restored to his right eye, has died at the age of 82.

Pegged the "Monticello Miracle” by the area's biggest local daily newspaper, Karkos’s name had been spoken and his story told by countless media outlets not only in the United States and Canada but in the United Kingdom and in Japan.

And along with the newsprint went television videos and radio transcripts of the miraculous occurrence. Organizations like CNN, CBS; NBC along with countless syndicated radio stations throughout the United States and Canada and even the BBC in England and radio outlets in Japan told of Karkos’s miraculous story.

Karkos, who had been blind since 1942, died at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y.

“He had a stroke about 10 days ago and was taken to Westchester (Medical Center) and was being treated by a top hospital staff,” said April Karkos, Don’s wife of 18 years.

“He was making good progress and even came out of intensive care and was placed a private room. But just when we thought he was on the way to recovery his heart gave out,” she added tearfully.

Karkos, a longtime paddock security guard and horse owner was reluctant to gain celebrity and hid his gained eyesight from all but a few close friends. But once the word got out the story was too big to keep hidden anymore. And a wonderful story it was…a Monticello Miracle.

Seaman Don Karkos, 17, lost his sight in the summer of 1942 while serving on the USS Rapadan in the North Atlantic, a merchant marine ship that fueled battleships and cruisers at sea. He was on deck of the Rapadan when there was a loud explosion. Twisted metal flew everywhere and something heavy hit him above his right eye. When Karkos awakened he found himself in a military hospital in Iceland and was told by the doctors that he’d never again see out of his right eye. But for cosmetic purposes Karkos chose leave that eye in place rather than remove it as the doctors suggested.

For about 60 years Karkos got by without sight in his right eye.

“Oh, it wasn’t all that bad but I got embarrassed from time to time when I’d run into objects or people on my right side,” he told one newspaper reporter back in mid-December when his story broke.

But he was trooper and continued to live life to the fullest.

However, back in November he was preparing a horse named My Buddy Chimo for an early morning workout (he helped John Gilmour with the barn work daily before he would go to his post in the race paddock)and was adjusting some equipment when the horse threw his head a bopped Karkos on the noggin, above his right eye.

Karkos said that the hit by the horses head made him see stars and he was woozy for a while but he went on about his work and to his post in the paddock but when he got home that evening and was rubbing his left (good) eye and he was stunned and called April right away.

“I can see out of my right eye, “he shouted to his wife incredulously.

And, as they say, the rest is history.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Karkos. He was a consummate gentleman, well liked by all who had the pleasure of knowing him,” noted Monticello Raceway general manager, Shawn Wiles. “Our prayers go out to his family.”

“Monticello Raceway will hold a Don Karkos Memorial race later this season and it will be an annual event,” Wiles added. “How could we, or anyone else for that matter, ever forget ‘the Monticello Miracle.’” (with files from Monticello)

« Back