Champ in the House: Jose Arias left us too soon

 Jose left us prematurely at the age of 45. He was a dedicated horseplayer of Santa Anita for his entire adult life, with his first visit dating back to when he was 15 years old. Jose was a familiar face in the Eddie Logan Suite, although he occasionally started elsewhere for the day, he always ended up at the Logan. Jose wasn’t prejudiced, he possessed an unbiased nature and would engage with the wealthiest individuals at the track. On any given race day, you could find him in any of the Suites, the Eddie Logan Suite, or even mingling with the 10 cent bettors in the Dungeon. He would always ask everyone he knew, regardless of the size of their wallet, "who do you like?" as he simply loved handicapping the races.

 

Jose had a particular passion for participating in tournaments, which he began doing as early as the early 2000s at Fairplex Park in Pomona. He loved the $40 Santa Anita Contest, a format that involved $3 Win-Place bets on five races. He likely won more of those contests than anyone else. He played in these tournaments consistently, even participating in the last $40 tournament at the recent Santa Anita meet. I recall meeting Jose for the first time when a friend of mine, Jeff Day, aka, "The Banker" was taken down in a $40 contest due to a player's scores not being posted. While we were waiting for the audit to conclude, Jose was present with us. At the time, I had not yet met him and initially mistook him for the person lodging the claim. However, it turned out he was simply a concerned player eager to know the outcome because he genuinely cared.

 

After my first encounter with Jose, I would often see Jose during simulcast racing at Santa Anita, even before he became the champ. We would congregate in the same area at the far end of the FrontRunner Restaurant, where the track's most astute handicappers and gamblers would gather. Jose was consistently friendly and respectful, always asking, "who do you like?"

 

What many may not know is that Jose qualified for the NHC (National Horseplayers Championship) in the year he triumphed in one of the last tournaments for the season held at Surfside OTB / Del Mar's simulcast location. This tournament had a live format, which eventually proved not to be his strength compared to the mythical format. It is my belief that Jose's participation in the $40 tournaments helped him develop a strong strategy that made him one of the top competitors in mythical play. He remains the only player to have come close to winning the NHC twice. When he did win in 2014, he dominated the field from start to finish but narrowly clung to victory by a mere nose. The last race conclusion was climactic, especially since the runner-up had wagered on Fit to Rule, the winner which received late betting action, dropping its odds from 8-1 to 6-1. Unfortunately, the runner-up fell short by a mere $1.20. Controversy ensued after Jose's victory on twitter. Prior to the final race, he had called a friend to confirm his strategy, and some individuals accused him of instructing his friends to bet on Fit to Rule in order to manipulate the odds. However, such allegations held no merit, as anyone who knew Jose understood that he possessed the utmost integrity. Following his victory, Jose, a proud man, hurriedly purchased a suit to attend the evening ceremony. He appeared dapper and sharp as a tack at the gala. Jose exemplified grace as a winner and proved to be one of the best ambassadors for the NHC. He traveled to various tracks, never declining an interview, and actively promoted the sport we all love. He was voted into the NTRA Hall of Fame by his peers, one of his proudest moments. He particularly enjoyed appearing on Tom Quigley's seminars, and I recall his most recent appearance on June 3, 2023, where he discussed his induction into the NTRA Hall of Fame.

 

Through my lens, I observed Jose had two favorite people to hang out with at the racetrack, Rob Talstra and Gary Hartunian. He was also inseparable from his best friend, Alexis, whom you would always see him with. Undoubtedly, he had many other friends as well.

 

Rob and Jose would handicap races together. While Rob excelled in cash tournament play and possessed a deep understanding of how to win, he and Jose collaborated on all the races. It was truly special to witness their handicapping prowess, and they knew how to have fun, particularly in the Logan. Gary served as a mentor to Jose, and whenever Gary was at the track, Jose was his wingman. If Gary or Rob horses won a race, Jose would invariably be present in the winner's circle. He took great pride in his friendships. 

Then there was the boss of the Eddie Logan, when you were in the Eddie Logan you were in Tom Quigley’s office. A very special man!  Tom is the VIP Player Concierge for Santa Anita, and no one knows better on how to take care of a horseplayer than Tom. He fosters relationships with all his players, and Jose was just one of many individuals Tom looked after. Tom took tremendous pride in having one of his players win the NHC, which led to the nickname "Champ." by Tom. From the moment Jose entered the Logan after his NHC victory, Tom would enthusiastically exclaim, "Champ in the House!" It became something truly special. Tom also kept a watchful eye over Jose. Jose was notorious for placing his bets at the last possible moment, and Tom would always ensure that the champ knew how much time was left before post so he could submit his wagers to Bobovich, the teller in the Eddie Logan. Jose had developed a strong bond with Bobovich, and on any given day when Bobovich was working alone in the suite, Jose would post up beside him, often discussing their selections between races.

 

While Jose and I shared a common commitment to working hard to succeed in this game, I always made sure to have fun with him. When we were in the Logan, I would playfully tease him by drawing an imaginary circle around myself and telling him to stay outside the circle. On occasions when his close friends were absent, he would gravitate towards myself and James Leal because he always enjoyed handicapping races with others. When I started using Optix, he showed interest and would frequently ask me, "Who Plots?" I would often evade answering him because once you began engaging with Jose, it was easy to lose focus on your own methodologies and routines. It was all in good fun, and whenever I teased him, he would simply laugh and smile at me. He possessed an even-keeled temperament, and in the more than 10 years I knew him, I never saw him become upset with anyone or anything. I can't say the same for myself. He never complained, and even when his horse crossed the finish line first, he would maintain an air of expectation, acting as though winning was simply what was supposed to happen. When he forgot to place a bet in the NHC in 2021 when he finished second, I asked him what happened, and he mentioned that he had to take a call. He told me he wouldn't have selected the winning horse anyway, but after speaking with Rob, it's possible that may not have been the case.

 

There is no other place in racing quite like the Eddie Logan Suite. It holds a special place in my heart and for all the invited patrons that go there, and at the end of the day, all of Tom's players gather there at the end of the day during live racing, enjoying themselves and having a blast by betting on Los Al Quarters on Saturday and Sunday evenings. This became a ritual and ongoing for many years, and Jose was always present. A few years ago, he even became the ticket maker for a group of individuals who entrusted him with their wagers, recognizing him as a top handicapper for the quarters. Those nights were priceless, and they will never be the same without Jose.

 

Jose lived with diabetes and preliminary reports are that he died of a diabetic stroke in his apartment, he also was experiencing a challenging year suffered by the loss of both his parents and, despite losing his job, he established his own consulting business, leveraging his expertise as an engineer to generate business. Recently, I inquired about how things were going for him, and he mentioned that some weeks were extremely busy while others were slower.

 

A USC graduate, Jose was not one to flaunt his achievements and he wasn’t flashy.  Even after winning the NHC, he continued driving the same car. He remained more interested in assisting his family and making wise investments.

 

We have lost one of the good ones among us. The "Hall of Fame Champ" is gone, but not forgotten, and he will be truly missed, especially by all his friends in the Logan, we eagerly await the opportunity to celebrate his life when the Santa Anita Autumn meet opens in late September. 

 

#ChampInTheHouse 

#TeamEddieLogan

#WhoDoYouLike 

#Don'tGetShutOut 

#RIPJose