Gordon Waterstone

Lexington, KY — We’re at the top of the stretch and turning for home as today and tomorrow are the final two race cards of major stakes racing this year at The Red Mile. Much different this year at the private country club we call The Red Mile as unlike last year, attendance isn’t limited and the jumbotron TV screen in the infield is back.

The final weekend of racing kicked off yesterday under great conditions, and the weather today and Sunday looks to be the same as we should have sunny skies and highs around 80 degrees.

I saw a bunch of Michiganders at the track yesterday for the first time, including Michigan Hall of Famer Lee Sattelberg and his wife, Denna. They were also celebrating their 21st wedding anniversary. When I saw them sitting on a bench by Wagers, I also saw Carol Cramer sitting with them. Carol was Lee’s first wife a long, long, long time ago. Denna is Lee’s fourth wife. I told them all we needed now is to find Meegan Sattelberg, who was wife number three, and take a group photo. I got a small chuckle out of Lee for that comment.

Demier Minor came by to say hello while I was sitting there, and when I got up I came across Mike Micallef. Waiting today on the arrival of Patty Wright Robinson, who was an outrider at Hazel Park back in the day when I was there as publicity director.

After race three I jumped in the van driven by Marvin Pryor to hitch a ride to the paddock, and I was joined by Nina Shaw, the caretaker of the 2-year-old colt trotter Branded By Lindy, who had just looked sensational with his sixth straight victory in an International Stallion Stake. I congratulated Nina, who still works for trainer Domenico Cecere. I first met her three years ago when she took care of the filly trotter Taylor Swiftly. I actually had blank space trying to remember Nina’s name until a person I can’t identify gave me some help.

When I made it to the paddock I saw Andy McCarthy standing under the shade so I went over. Andy told me it was a “tough call” in making his Kentucky Futurity driving decision between Jujubee and Ahundreddollarbill. Andy went with the Greg Wright Jr.-trained Jujubee, with trainer Tony Alagna turning to Andy’s little bro, Todd, to direct Ahundreddollarbill. Ironically, both 3-year-old trotters are $75,000 supplements to the famed trotting classic.

Race four was heading to the track so I said hello to a few of the guys as they headed to the track, and I was standing there when Yannick Gingras brought World At War Deo back for an equipment adjustment. Trainer Dave Menary took care of what was needed with the rigging and Yannick went back on the track, and the 2-year-old Chapter Seven colt went out and won his International Stallion Stake division. When Yannick returned from the winner’s circle I congratulated him and noted that the equipment adjustment worked. I have to also congratulate Yannick on becoming the sixth driver in history to reach the $200-million mark in career earnings during yesterday’s card.

Ron Burke and his dog Appa at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Gordon Waterstone photo.

I decided to make the long walk back to the grandstand where I saw trainer Ron Burke headed over to watch a race at his usual position about midway down the stretch. Ronnie puts in a lot of miles going from his barn to the paddock to his spot on the fence. I also had a chance to meet the Burke’s dog Appa a couple nights ago at the sale and yesterday afternoon as I was sitting in an apron box next to Ronnie’s wife, Diane, and Appa.

I saw Ongait’s Maurice Chodash near the winner’s circle, where Mark Weaver was also standing. Mark had on a Little Brown Jug shirt and I told him that except for the color it was the same shirt Bruce Willis wore a couple of times in the movie Lay The Favorite that I had just watched a couple of weeks ago. Mark was standing with Joe and Chico DiScala, so he introduced me to them.

Bob Wingfield told me I should get a clicker to keep count of the people stopping to chat with me, and I told him it’s been a whirlwind. For example, I remember Boss Kathy’s brother, Norm Parker, told me somewhere along the way yesterday that he was heading back home to Pennsylvania. But I can’t remember for the life of me where we had that conversation.

A bunch of people came up to me and asked if I had cashed on the $8 winner at Keeneland that Mike Vandeheede had been touting. No, Mike never said a word to me. I have one this afternoon at The Red Mile that I’m waiting for and even if Mike waterboard’s me he won’t get the name out of me. Anyone wants to ask if they see me, I’ll tell. Just not to Mike.

Matt Franklin, wealth advisor for Wire to Wire Wealth, came over to me and chastised me for not knowing that there was a $2.89 gas station not too far from The Red Mile on Versailles Road. I checked this morning and Matt was correct, but I have an excuse as I hardly ever go that way. Actually, I should have taken that route leaving the racetrack as I was meeting Dave, Nick and Joanna at Buddha on Mill Street for an early sushi dinner.

Instead of going back toward Versailles Road and swinging back downtown, I made a left on Red Mile Road so I could take another left on Broadway. Big mistake as it took several light changes for me to make the turn. Last Friday when I left the track I had to wait at the intersection when three police cars were escorting two big buses filled with Kentucky football players heading to where ever they were going to be sequestered before their game on Saturday against Florida. Which they won. Today I had to wait as a solo police car weaved its way through traffic with lights flashing, and then a slow group of cars ahead of me making the turn.

UK plays LSU tonight here at 7:30 p.m., and a crowded downtown had plenty of people wearing LSU colors. After circling a few blocks in an unsuccessful quest to find free parking on the street I gave up and went into a lot where I paid $8 for three hours. Three girls with LSU shirts on were paying at the machine just ahead of me, so I wished them luck in the game. UK is a 2.5 point favorite as they look to go 6-0 this year. Batten down the hatches if they win tonight as the celebrations on the streets of Lexington will be wild.

I drove by the football stadium on my way to the track this morning and all is quiet. When I arrived I saw Sam Bowie standing by The Deck of Dreams, and Sam sadly told me that his longtime friend that had been in poor health passed away around 3 a.m. this morning at the age of 91. Sam had told me earlier he was spending time with the man who was his financial advisor since he was 18, with his other clients including Rajon Rondo and Tayshaun Prince, among other former UK stars. Condolences to Sam on the loss of what was one of his closest friends.

Nick Salvi was tidying up the deck, where it looked like there was some party last night. Things were in a bit of disarray this morning. When I walked back into the barn area I saw Ohioan Dave Springer, who introduced me to Randy Leipa, who is from Livonia, Mich. and has horses with trainer Bob McIntosh. Since Dave is a backer of that school in Columbus, I paid full attention to Randy, and we talked about our home state. Randy doesn’t live too far from where the Detroit Race Course (also known as Wolverine Raceway) stood for many years until demolished in the late 1990s.

I walked by Tom Cancelliere and he told me he bought two horses, and he confirmed to me what I was told in that he was the underbidder on the $620,000 Walner colt that was purchased opening night by Ken Jacobs.

I made my way back to the deck on my way out and again saw Sam and Nick standing there. Trackman Dan brought Pinehurst’s Scott Freeman over, and then our group was joined by the USTA’s Mark Hall and Wendy Ross. I met Wendy’s dog Stella yesterday afternoon at the track and she had Stella with her this morning.

The first race Saturday afternoon is the Kevin Thomas Memorial as we remember the late Kentucky horseman. After the second race there will be a winner’s circle memorial for Hall of Fame trainer Ron Gurfein, with all horsemen invited to join in on the ceremony. I really missed seeing Ron this year in Lexington, especially now that Frank and Dino’s has finally opened, a restaurant that Ronnie kept asking me if I knew when the grand opening would be.

Tonight is the final night of the sale so continued good wishes go to my sponsor, Steve and Cindy Stewart’s Hunterton Sales Agency. I received many comments on my mention yesterday of Last Call Larry, who sells tonight as Hip 863. I texted Larry’s daughter, Laura, about the horse named for her father, and she was most, most appreciative. I saw the young whippersnapper Jay Hochstetler — who is currently racing at Hoosier Park — yesterday and he was planning on doing some buying at tonight’s session, which features many Ohio and Indiana horses.

Adam Bowden asked me to remind everybody that while the sale tonight starts at 7 p.m., there will be a two-hour cocktail reception at Diamond Creek’s spot in Barn 7 beginning at 5 p.m.