Sudden Passing of Horse Racing Writer Art Parker, a Cornerstone of Agameofskill.com

November 1, 2020 by 2 Comments
Handicapper Art ParkerWe are so deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend Art Parker, who was a great writer and friend of the sport. Art loved horse racing and for years he wrote handicapping and fan articles for agameofskill.com. The truth is that the site would likely not exist today without Art’s assistance over the years.  He provided great content when I was simply to busy to do so due to work and family obligations.
Sadly, I never got to meet Art in person as he lived in another state; in fact, one without a racetrack. But we talked numerous times on the phone, and like what happens so often in the sport of horse racing, our mutual love for the game made us friends for life.
Art Parker, who was a long-time editor of newspapers in Montgomery Alabama, passed from complications from a car accident.  Art was the epitome of a true gentleman.  He was kind, intelligent, a great family man, and I never heard him say a bad word about anyone. He will be greatly missed.
Please lift up prayers for his wife and family.
God speed Art.
Filed Under: Horse Racing News, Horseplayers who left a mark Tagged With: , , ,

R.I.P. Tim Conway, aka Jockey Lyle Dorf

May 14, 2019 by 1 Comment

The one-and-only Tim Conway passed away today at the age of 85.  He was best known for his role in the Carol Burnett television show, but for those of us in the horse racing industry, he was also jockey Lyle Dorf.

Here is his hilarious skit with Late Night host Johnny Carson.

Here is a 1988 interview with track announcer Trevor Denman of Santa Anita.  Denman sits down for a conversation with comedian Tim Conway, a big fan of horse racing.  Conway gives a great tip for new fans at the 1:40 mark of the video.   Denman also provides some great insight that is the worth the listen for every horseplayer.

 

Filed Under: Great Horse Racing Videos, Handicapping 101, Horse Racing Education, Horse Racing News, Horseplayers who left a mark, Learn to Handicap Tagged With: , , ,

R.I.P Great Man, Great Handicapper – John Roe

January 7, 2019 by 2 Comments

A top 10 finisher at the 2018 NHC, John Roe passed away over the weekend.  Here is an article about him that appeared in the Daily Racing Form:

John Roe is a fighter. And like John Henry, one of the Thoroughbreds he admires most, the bigger the challenge, the more he finds in his heart.

Of all the stories to emerge from this year’s National Horseplayers Championship, Roe’s has attracted the most attention from his fellow horseplayers. His ninth-place finish, worth $52,000, comes with a story for the ages.

Roe, 60, is a longtime race fan, and even worked on the backstretch for a few years in his native Cicero, Ill., where he grew up walking distance from both Hawthorne and Sportsman’s Park. He started playing tournaments in mid-2016, inspired by a chance meeting at Del Mar with the man known as the patron saint of rookie tournament players: John Doyle, who won the NHC at first asking back in 2011.

Soon thereafter, Roe discovered that his daughter’s boyfriend’s uncle, Nick Pavletic, was very active on the tournament scene. The two played together in one of Hawthorne’s tournaments and the hook was set in Roe. He decided to include tournaments in his horseplaying repertoire, and ended up qualifying for the NHC in another Hawthorne tourney several months later.

Filed Under: Horse Racing News, Horseplayers who left a mark Tagged With: , ,