Robert Fox died

[ELA]

Good evening all. I haven't posted here in a very long time, and unfortunately, the catalyst for me posting tonight is with unfortunate and sad news. For those of you who don't already know, Robert Fox died on Thanksgiving. He was 75. I had the honor and privilege of meeting Bob about 30 years ago, and we became fast friends. While our friendship lasted 30 years, now that he's gone I can selfishly say that 30 years was certainly not enough time for our friendship. If you knew Bob, you'd understand. Bob was brilliant, knew pedigrees and breeding better than anyone, was colorful, at times he appeared and sounded bombastic, but there was always one constant...a never-ending love and passion for this great sport and industry.

Bob, throughout a career that lasted almost a half century, was involved in many aspects of this great sport and industry. He was a pioneer in the bloodstock industry and in stallion syndications as well. He was involved and orchestrated the syndications and stallion careers of Alydar, Wild Again, Capote, Skip Away, Cryptoclearance, Devil His Due, and many more. Bob actually purchased Devil His Due as a weanling, for $25,000, who eventually went on to be a multiple G1 winner and had earnings of just under $4mm.

Bob also produced and hosted his own TV show and radio show -- long before the internet -- where he would interview racing personalities such as Frank Whitely, Jr., John Nerud, and numerous other legends of our sport. At one time, Bob also had a radio segment, “Thoroughbred Legacies,” which aired on Steve Byk's "At the Races".

Bob also traveled the world, to exotic places, places many people never heard of, at least not when he visited them. He visited places long before they became popular. He was knowledgeable, about many things. If a group of people were standing around, talking about ice cream flavors...I would want to hear Bob's opinion on Rocky Road.

Bob was also a marketing genius and did promotional marketing before anyone else in the industry. He thought out of the box, got results that were out of the box, and was truly an amazing guy. Bob was generous, caring, and loving. He served on the Board of Trustees of the NYTHA, various committees, and he helped found, and raised money for, The Jana Domino Foundation (named after Carl Domino's daughter who passed away). Bob was a horseman. He was one of us.

Some say you had to know Bob to appreciate and understand him. Perhaps that is true to some extent. The more and the better you knew him, the more you could appreciate his brilliance and who he was as a person. There is not enough bandwidth to write about Bob Fox. I was so very proud to know him. Even more, I was very honored and privileged to learn from him, spend time with him...and far more than all of that...to call him my friend. Bob, while I cried when I heard you died...I also had a smile on my face that was peaking through the tears. Because when spending time with you, talking to you, whatever we used to do...you always made me laugh.

To his lovely wife, Mary Ann... I don't know what to say...my most sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to you. You are in my thoughts and I will talk to you soon.