“I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.�

Godspeed Richiebee and good folk.

Fairmount1 Wrote:
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> A journalism professor once taught me that making
> connections between the people, the places, the
> events, and the times around us provide the most
> meaning to our lives and help us understand the
> world. Further, we mark our lives by the moments
> that impacted us the most as they connect to other
> meaningful events in our lives.
> ___________________________________
>
> In the summer of 2016, I hit a trifecta box
> meeting Uncle Bill, richiebee, and TGAB (Alan) in
> the backyard at Saratoga. While I was not as
> close to these guys as many others in these parts,
> I certainly felt they had a profound impact on my
> life. They are all gone now and I'm trying to
> connect the dots today.
>
> Uncle Bill taught me ways to actually be kind to
> people and to take the chip off my shoulder about
> being competitive in every single aspect of life.
> I saw him in the backyard share jokes with young
> and old, men and women, and all walks of life. He
> had a knack for connecting with others including
> the horses at the race track.
>
> My phone indicates the last time I spoke to Bill
> was Fountain of Youth Weekend. That Saturday he
> drove towards Gulfstream to meet me and spend time
> with me. I told him once he arrived to call and
> I'd meet him in the parking lot to walk him into
> where I was at in the paddock. He made it about
> 100 minutes of the 120 minute drive only to not
> feel well. He called and said he thought he
> should turn around. He did and he did make it
> home. While we didn't connect in person, we did
> speak the following morning as I drove from the
> STL airport to my place. Sovereignty had won the
> Fountain of Youth and we discussed Mott, the horse
> and that he had a real shot in the Derby. I'll
> mark time by connecting Bill's passing with the
> year Sovereignty won the Derby and the Fountain of
> Youth when Bill didn't quite make it all the way
> to see me.
>
> An earlier call on my phone is dated Thursday,
> February 13th. He called to tell me that his good
> pals associated with the Harvey Clarke
> Estate/Family had Gosger running Saturday. He was
> in a MSW race only his 2nd start. "Fairmount, my
> boy, this horse is good enough to be a Derby
> horse. He will win on Saturday and we will see
> where he goes from there!" He won that Saturday
> afternoon at Gulfstream as I watched via
> simulcast. I felt connected to Bill when the
> horse passed the wire.
>
> My last texts with Bill were dated April 5th and
> April 12th. I notified him Gosger was entered for
> the 12th. April 5 reply: "Thanks much Fairmount.
> I appreciate that. Hope he runs well." April 12
> I write moments after the Lexington Stakes at Kee:
> "Congrats!! He ran very very well" His reply:
> "Thank you Fairmount coming from that source
> must've run a real nice race. Thanks again. We
> will talk." My reply: "He was loaded and looked
> like there was more in there. Serious Preakness
> Contender."
>
> Those were the last words I shared with Uncle
> Bill. When I arrive in Baltimore, I'll make a
> walk around the old plant before it is destroyed
> from its current state reflecting on the history
> of Ol Hilltop, reflecting on the connections I've
> made in this game specifically Uncle Bill, and
> wondering how well Gosger will run and win or lose
> if it means I've connected dots in the world to
> provide my life deeper meaning.
>
> In a call earlier in the year, he had told me he
> would make it to Saratoga this summer,
> specifically saying that "Fairmount, my boy, it's
> gonna happen!" I'll certainly make a pass by the
> place he loved to check the horses' feet and give
> it an uneducated attempt of my own just to see if
> I can remotely understand what he was looking for
> in those animals. That's where I met him-- in
> that area near the horse path out past the
> Fourstardave bar. He may not make it this year
> but I'll try to carry the torch and be kind to
> someone in a way that would make him proud. I'd
> anticipate I'll buy a $10 win ticket on
> Sovereignty and give it to someone who probably
> will need something to cheer for in life.
>
> This one hurts. I didn't see it coming and was
> looking forward to talking to him before or during
> my Preakness sojourn. If Gosger wins the
> Preakness, I'll mark time once again.
>
> The amount that trifecta box of Uncle Bill,
> richiebee, and Alan has paid is untold riches.
> Amounts that would make Amenhotep blush. I'll
> never be able to spend all I won from that big
> strike in August of 2016.
>
> R.I.P. Bill
>
> ______________________
>
> I may write more about Bill in the coming days but
> wanted to get this out after learning about his
> passing earlier today.