FrankD asked me to post the news that Richard Land aka \"richiebee\" passed away yesterday.
I\'m sure there will be countless posts in his honor and of memories of him on here as he connected with so many. I\'ll post my best effort for him when I have more time.
Rest In Peace richiebee
I used to hear bands around the city with Richie, great guy. And one of the most insightful, interesting and articulate voices on this forum. He will be missed.
Damn what a gut punch.
Met him last year at Saratoga. One of the good ones here. He inspired me to put a P5 ticket in on La Derby Day 2020 that paid $7400, right after Covid hit.
RIP Richiebee
Fellow Staten Islander (back in the day)... Was always a delight speaking with him ... Various FOY trips... He will be missed...
John
Can\'t remember the last time I opened this board, but I was curious to know about Belmont/Aqueduct being canceled. Then I see this thread, and I figured it had to be vibratory disruptions that shut down Belmont/Aqueduct today. You don\'t lose a classic like Richiebee and not have serious cosmic repercussions.
So I go deeper into the board and I see where Alan also passed away. I knew both only marginally from the backyard at Saratoga.. It was clear that only the blood of a true horseplayer coursed through Alan\'s veins.
Richie was one of the best scribes to grace this board. I could only mention BB and Rich Curtis in the same breath. I have not been here enough to suggest that\'s an exhaustive list, but I can confidently say I never read a post of Richie\'s that did not occasion either a wry smile or a nod of recognition, or both.
Not sure if there\'s an afterlife, but if it\'s worth a damn, it will have a backyard and two chairs have now been filled by legends of the game.
Ditto. Perfectly stated.
Writing well is very difficult. The good ones make every word count. I am thinking of Red Smith and Joe Palmer specifically. Richie was in that category and every post was a gift.
Ah man sorry to hear.
Met Mr.B couple of FOY weekends solid dude.
Always enjoyed a good banter with him.
RIP Mr.B
Sorry to hear. Funny guy. Knowledgeable. A true Racetrack character. RIP
I’m really sorry to hear one of Staten Island’s best has passed away.
\"Dying is no big deal. The least of us will manage that. Living is the trick.\"
Evergreen words from sportswriting\'s greatest eulogist, W.W. \"Red\" Smith.
Not surprising, JB, that Richie was frequent and good company on your cultural excursions. If you ever found yourself seated next to him on a bar stool, at a ballpark, or on a lawn chair in the Spa backyard, you were already ahead on the day. Richie knew the trick. RIP.
My first interaction was Richie slapping me for a well deserved red board using TG in the last week of 2015. Had to be the last week, I wouldn’t buy Mahoning. I titled the post Thank You and Richie didn’t like that. But the horse paid ~ $415 to win, I only had $2 to win and he/she looked to be circling around. We went back and forth, but then it got friendly, he sent me a few emails or PM, don’t remember. But we went back and forth and I could just tell he’s one I’d like to meet. I went around the backyard area a few times over the years, and asked, but was told not today. His dad and I had something in common. We both went to school in Coral Gables, but didn’t finish. Mine was due to Hialeah, not sure on Mr. Land. We talked about the old farms in Colts Neck he’d pass when going to play golf. But the post on BB were always so good,well thought out and well placed minor details that made you know he was there. I hope to meet someday on the other side. If anyone can pass on the link to his obit, I’d like read it please. RIP
Sending my condolences
Fairmount-
Geez I haven’t been playing the races much lately- and just scrolled down and saw this about Richie- always fun to talk to online and even better in person.
Man we are getting old fast. Too bad Richie missed the Mets recent run. A die hard fan.
This hours clearly isn’t the same without his insight and thoughtful analysis.
He was one of the good guys!
NCTony