R.I.P. 'For The Lead'

[Ted Craven]

Sadly, I received an email yesterday from the wife of our friend For the Lead, telling me he had passed away on March 9 of this year at the age of 74. As many of you will know, he had been in declining health for a couple of years now. I received no other information about his passing.

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Clifford (Bud) Kanz, known here as 'For the Lead' undertook to teach the principles of the early Sartin Methodology in numerous literate, erudite and illustrated posts since 2008. He posted primarily in what became the Sartin Methodology Handicapping 101 Forum describing time-tested principles, concepts and using examples from Energy and RDSS. He did not use RDSS for his handicapping, but asked if he could use it for teaching and demonstration purposes. He had developed his own software using TrackMaster data over many years, based on Sartin/Brohamer and other of his own observations and discoveries.

Bill Lyster made a labour-of-love compilation of those teachings which are located in the Library here ("For The Lead" Approach to Handicapping – from Brohamer to Sartin and beyond … (http://paceandcap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11449)). Well worth digesting. Bill L also stayed in contact with Bud over a number of years, and perhaps has more information to add.

Bill Varone also was a friend of Bud's and the 2 of them stayed in close touch, comparing handicapping notes and thoughts about life in general.

Condolences to his family. Rest in Peace For The Lead and thanks for being part of our community.

Ted

[Bill Lyster]

Admittedly, I did not know Bud very well. We communicated mostly via email and an occasional phone call.

Being a numbers guy and having done a lot of research I could use a lot of what Bud had developed. Sadly, not all of what Bud discovered in his handicapping journey was shared with us and as much as I prodded him to write a book and further explain his process, he politely refused to do so. In my opinion a great loss to all of us.

There are hundreds of pages with examples of Bud's ideas and work that he shared over the years. I hope you all get a chance to read and absorb some of his many discoveries.

Bill

[Lefty]

FTL, I didn't know him, but I do know of his contributions to his board. I will miss him.
Walk with God.

[shoeless]

Very sorry to hear about the passing of FTL , I really enjoyed his posts and learned a lot
from him especially about using Energy. He will be missed.

[Rverge]

sorry to read my condolences

[MJS6916]

I'm sorry to hear about FTL.

My condolences to all; especially his family.


Mike

[darmar]

Always shakes to my core when I find out that of the early members of this wonderful family we have here goes to the Promised Land to join the others who we so dearly cared about. I believe with all my heart and soul that another place has been set for you at the table FTL and that you will now be pain free in the light of our father in heaven.
Darryl

[CheckMark]

RIP Clifford/ For The Lead
:(

[RichieP]

R.I.P. and condolences to his family and friends. Thank you for taking the time you did here to share your methods

[dlivery]

We have lost a formidable member of our community.
For The Lead impacted the lives of so many people.
Many have been Blessed for sharing F T L approach to Handicapping has given more results I could ever imagine.
Rest in Peace

[mick]

I did not know the gentleman but I have read Bill Lyster's superb compilation several times. FTL developed an approach that was great at lesser tracks with mediocre (aka "cheap") horses. In a conversation with Ted, I said you couldn't take FTL's method to Saratoga and bet against Chad Brown. You would have a big hole in your bankroll bucket. It worked great though at the Penn Nationals of our horseracing world. Opportunities are where you find them and FLT found his. I am sorry to hear of his death but as George Harrison said, "All things must pass."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yufsEgTcEOc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6iaSWSB7rE

[tom]

Sad news, indeed.
His approach to handicapping PDF material is excellent!
Always appreciate fellow Sartin grad who share with others.
Doc would be proud.

RIP, and thank you!:thumb:

[Neil S.]

This is truly very sad news to me personally. I got the chance to communicate with him regarding his pace line selection and it radically changed my approach to the methodology. I owe a debt of gratitude to him for the help he gave me and send my deepest sympathies to his family. Dr. Sartin would have embraced his version of handicapping as he always wanted us to not be strict adherents to the methodology but to use the teachings as a framework for our own individual approach and style.
Thanks to Pace and Cap his teachings will live on and I hope to enjoy continued success using his approach.

Neil

[ignacio todoberto bernal]

FTL....rest in heaven,thanks for your teachings.My deepest condolences for the family
you left behind..

ignacio

[Ted Craven]

I did not know the gentleman but I have read Bill Lyster's superb compilation several times. FTL developed an approach that was great at lesser tracks with mediocre (aka "cheap") horses. In a conversation with Ted, I said you couldn't take FTL's method to Saratoga and bet against Chad Brown. You would have a big hole in your bankroll bucket. It worked great though at the Penn Nationals of our horseracing world. Opportunities are where you find them and FLT found his. I am sorry to hear of his death but as George Harrison said, "All things must pass."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yufsEgTcEOc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6iaSWSB7rE

And some echos remain. Couldn't resist.

o6iaSWSB7rE

Ted

[mick]

All the more poignant because Paul is singing it.

Whenever I hear that song, I want to find a quiet place, preferably under a tree in a meadow, and get in touch with my soul.

[DaveEdwards]

Sad news indeed.
RIP FTL.