Zachary Taylor's Album: Wall Photos

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I first met Abel in August of 2016 when we both had arrived at The University of Arizona to participate in the Race Track Industry Program. Abel's academic achievements speak volumes about the tenacity and vigor with which he approached his studies. It should not be overlooked though, that he approached helping his classmates in the same way. Whenever someone was struggling with their coursework, Abel was there to guide them. The responsibilities he took on outside of normal student-related matters were robust, especially considering his own immense workload. It was no surprise that he was selected to assist in the writing and editing of RTIP communications, development of the their revamped website, and coordinating different student affairs such as the mentor luncheon at the RTIP symposium.

Outside of academia, Abel and I found common ground in our love of of horse racing and appreciation for food. We regularly gathered to watch and bet on (mostly unsuccessfully) racing's biggest days. He taught me the finer points of sautéing scallops at a dinner party I hosted, saving great embarrassment on my part. One of my favorite memories of Abel was a trip to Waffle House after a night of revelry and libations. He had been talking about being hungry for quite some time before our arrival at the restaurant, and after much discussion as to whether or not it could be done, he proceeded to order and finish 22 strips of bacon and 10 scrambled eggs. After a hearty congratulations from the line cook, Abel started polishing off the waffles left over from other people's meals. My hero.

Another cherished memory was the time we spent together during the summer of 2019, during Abel's internship at Arizona Downs. Abel rented an apartment behind the house I was living in with another couple, the Campbells. The apartment only had a small kitchenette, so the back door of the main house was always left unlocked so he had access to the full kitchen. The running joke was that Abel was our Kramer, as he would make a pronounced entrance, usually with a topic of discussion that would lead to some comedic conversations or vigorous discourse about minutiae.

Attached is a photo from a trip with some of our RTIP classmates to Santa Anita Park in October of 2019.



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