Sometimes a moment in life touches you. Sometimes it happens years after the fact through tears and sadness. Mike Stoikopoulos shares a North America Cup moment in time that he spent with a very special person - Joey Roberts.

Maybe the strangest most endearing thing, looking back, was the randomness - the complete lack of planning - of that night.

We had somewhere to be of course.

It was North America Cup night, 2008, and ‘George’ had been summoned to his “job”. George had been born to royalty, the last foal of legendary pacer Fan Hanover. His racing name had been Letsmoveon, but ever since our purchase in 2002, his barn name had been George, in honour of his former owner.

He’d had a pretty solid career as a racehorse, earning over $100,000 - nowhere near his mother’s stature, but then none of her foals had matched or surpassed her. For 364 days a year George was perfecting his second career as a “lawn ornament”, keeping other retirees company. He had been summoned on this night to be the “Meet and Greet” horse at the front gates of Mohawk Racetrack.

Along with the North America Cup, the Fan Hanover Stakes was being contested and WEG officials thought the tie in was perfect. Come meet the last foal of the legendary Fan Hanover. It didn’t hurt that George was perfectly suited to “the job.” There had never been a carrot that George wasn’t interested in, and people fussing over him was really what it was all about with George.

I had gone into the grandstand to let the folks know that George was in position when I saw him.

“Hey kid, what are you doing here so early?” I asked.

The kid dressed in shorts and a blue tee beamed.

“Hey Mike...What ‘s up...Where’s Ton? (Tonya Backus)”

When I explained the meet and greet situation to him, he insisted that he be part of our team. I told him to make sure he let his folks know where he was and to make sure it was ok with them.

As was the kid’s way, he quickly turned it into a sleepover at our place. His morning landing was only down the road and just across the highway, so really it was no big inconvenience.

Back to the front of the building we went. I was carting a far too large bucket of previously buffet-destined carrots, and the kid running up to Tonya to give her a big hug.

“Mike says I can help and stay over, too.”

She looked at me as I shrugged. That ‘he talked you into that pretty quick’ look was more laughable resignation than upset.

The kid was already hard at it as the flocks of people streamed into the grandstand. Youngsters from the city would sheepishly head over to gaze at George while the kid would hand them a carrot and ease their angst with tales of how friendly and “touchable” the horse was. They would remark how soft he was, as the kid gave George a big hug to prove what a pet he was.

The 2008 Cup was a special night - an Ontario-bred, as yet undefeated favourite had grabbed more mainstream attention than any horse in a couple of decades. The crowds continued to pour in, and for over an hour George and the kid continued to entertain the masses.

The track photographer came out to take a picture of George and his “team” thinking we would like a momento of the evening. George would make three or four meet and greet appearances over the years, but this was the only night where a photo had been taken...eerie.

With George’s job now completed, the kid and I walked him back through the public parking lot to the paddock. We laughed as late arrivals for the big race pointed and stared at the horse that seemed to be lost and searching for his vehicle. With George snug in his back barn stall - in carrot overdose recovery mode - we headed to the grandstand to watch the Cup.

Line-ups for pizza, line-ups for pop, the place was buzzing with excitement. We found seats in the grandstand and munched away as the field for the big race post paraded.

With a minute to post, a thought came over me. I’m not even sure why or how I even thought of it. Little did I know then, that in 35 years of racing, this would be my fondest and most cherished racing memory. I told Tonya we would be back after the race and summoned the kid to follow me.

“Where are we going?”

Through the enclosure doors we went and started climbing the stairs - workout style - til we got to the very top level of the outdoor grandstand. The race had just begun and as the waft of barbecue smoke rose to us, the field headed into the final turn with the Ontario-bred champion on top.

The roar of the crowd, as the champion passed each section of the grandstand, was unbelievable.

When Somebeachsomewhere crossed the finish line, the joy in the air, would not - could not - ever be duplicated.

“THAT...was sooooo cool.”

With that the kid launched down the stairs, telling me he would meet up soon. I headed back to the indoor grandstand seats, sitting beside my wife - who wanted to know where the kid was. I pointed to the massive winner’s circle presentation where sure enough he had crept into. We just shook our heads and smiled.

Later that night at home, there was a ruckus coming from the bathroom. Tonya peeked in to see the kid in the seldom used jacuzzi tub singing away - Julia Roberts, Pretty Woman style - with the North America Cup program raised high enough that he wouldn’t get bubbles on it. We laughed... hard now to the point that the ginger ale was coming out of our noses.

The Friday morning, a week before the 2015 N.A. Cup eliminations, I got an early morning eerie text... too early for anything good to be happening.

What happened to Joey Roberts?

I ran down to the computer to check the modern day news ticker that is Facebook. The tributes and RIP’s flooded the screen as my eyes swelled with tears. Several of the messages spoke of the smile that could light up a room.

I offer for you here today, the picture of Joey, George and us, that wonderful June night in 2008. See that smile for yourself.

Editor’s Note: Nineteen-year-old standardbred groom Joseph ‘Joey’ Roberts of London, ON. passed away on Thursday, June 4 after having succumbed to injuries suffered in an automobile accident.