Sal Campo, trainer and jockey agent, dies at 76
Former Mid-Atlantic trainer and jockey agent Sal Campo died Wednesday evening at age 76. He and Rosemary, his wife of 55 years, resided in Forked River, N.J.
Campo had success as both a horseman and agent. Primarily based at Philadelphia Park, he raced throughout the Mid-Atlantic from 1979 to 1993, winning 621 races and two Philadelphia Park titles, the winter-sprint meets of 1983 and 1991. He had a career win average of 15 percent.
:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Campo made it to the Kentucky Derby in 1984 with Raja’s Shark, who finished 14th of 20 behind Swale in the Derby and eighth of 10 to Gate Dancer in the Preakness. Rick Wilson was aboard in both races.
As an agent, Campo was most proud of the success Maria Remedio had as an apprentice. Remedio won 88 races from September 2004 through the end of 2005.
“He loved Maria and thought the world of her,” Rosemary Campo said Friday.
Campo grew up in Ozone Park, N.Y., near Aqueduct. His older brother John, who died in 2005, trained a number of top horses, including 1981 Wood Memorial, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness winner Pleasant Colony. Sal Campo is the uncle of longtime New York trainer John P. Campo Jr., who is now based at Tampa Bay Downs, and racing executive P.J. Campo, who is the agent of New York rider Eric Cancel.
Sal Campo retired as an agent in the mid-2000s, according to his wife.
“He wanted to spend time with the grandchildren,” Rosemary Campo said. “He told me now it was my time to go to work, which I did as a para-professional working with children. It worked out perfect. It was the best thing that ever happened to me and it gave him time to relax and for us to travel.”
Campo’s survivors include three children, Christopher, Debra, and Karen. Because of the extent of the coronavirus pandemic in New Jersey, funeral services are not possible at this time. The family plans to hold a memorial service at a later date.