Gordon Waterstone

Lexington, KY — We had some storms last night in the Bluegrass, and the severe weather prompted a tornado warning about an hour south of Lexington last night around 6:15. Thankfully, there was no touchdown, but the storms stayed on a northern path and reached Lexington a bit later. When I got home from dinner — where I could see the rain and flashes of lightning through the windows — my clocks were all blinking so I knew the power had gone out.

So I knew it’d be really wet at The Red Mile this morning and while I thought about staying home and waiting until 11:30 a.m. when the Kentucky Futurity draw will be held — hosted by the USTA’s Wendy Ross and Dave Brower and available for viewing on the USTA’s Facebook and Youtube pages if you’re not in The Red Mile grandstand live — but after not making the trip yesterday I didn’t want to make it two days in a row.

There was some concern for me yesterday as I got a call from Nick Salvi around 10:45 a.m. checking on me as people were asking, and I told him I was most appreciative that he called — and that he didn’t wait until Sunday to check on me.

The main track was closed by Trackman Dan this morning so all the horses were on the infield track. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

The main track was closed by Trackman Dan this morning so all the horses were on the infield track. Trackman Dan and his crew also had to do a bit of repair work to The Deck of Dreams’ sponsor banner as it took a bit of a beating in last night’s storms. It was pretty quiet in the barn area, but I did manage to find time to grab a donut at the Toscano/Holloway barn. While I was there Diane took Perfect Sting out to get some time in the paddock.

I arrived at Fasig-Tipton for yesterday’s second session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale at 2 p.m. for the Breedings For a Cause charity auction in the Kentucky Room. Eight of the most sought-after breedings were available and the end result was $207,000 going to the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge pot that is presented by the Libfeld/Katz breeding partnership. Brad Grant spent $55,000 to get a breeding to the trotting stallion Walner with Indian Mound Bloodstock paying $33,000 for a breeding to trotter Muscle Hill. The pacing sires were led by Captaintreacherous, with Kountry Lane Standardbreds paying $27,000.

I saw Brad a bit later and he came over to tell me how much he is enjoying reading Backstretch this year. Mike Bruscemi, the quieter half of the Weaver Bruscemi partnership, also came over to me to say the same. I am most appreciative of everybody who approaches me, especially guys like Brad and Mike who still take the time despite what I’m sure is a busy schedule while in Lexington.

Mayor Linda Gorton was interviewed by Dave Brower. Gordon Waterstone photo.

Also, the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale donated $10,000 to the Woodhill Community Center here in Lexington, and Mayor Linda Gorton was on hand for the ceremonial presentation of the check. Mayor Gorton came over to me and said that with the popularity of Backstretch With Gordon she is contemplating changing the ‘t’ in her last name to a ‘d’ to ensure a victory in the next election. You have my vote! “We are the horse capitol of the world!” Mayor Gordon — Gorton — proclaimed.

Before I go any farther, let’s talk about Wednesday’s session at Fasig-Tipton. Wow! With 213 horses sold, the gross was $17.9 million with an average of $84,164. There were 16 sold for $200,000 or more, including two for $500,000 or more. My sponsor, Hunterton Sales Agency, sold a Walner filly named Singeth With Joy to Ken Jacobs for $510,000, while Preferred Equine had a winning bid of $525,000 from Nancy Takter for the Walner filly Wall To Wall.

I stuck my head in the sales office and proudly showed off my phone charger that I had brought so I didn’t need to use one of theirs. Cindy Doyle told me that she had accepted my offer for three charges for $50 on Tuesday and that I must have misunderstood her. When I was walking out I saw Alan Leavitt so we had a chance to chat a few minutes. Alan asked if I had seen his wife Meg at the Round Barn fundraiser Monday night and I hadn’t, but that I did see Kitty Sautter. Alan said Meg spent more than five hours on Sunday at the Round Barn to help set up the function.

I saw Canadian trainer Shawn Steacy, who said his dad Mark was around somewhere. Shawn gave me the details on the COVID testing protocols he needed to get here, including getting tested in Lexington before he returns home. George Ducharme came walking by and he told me that he was awakened around 2 a.m. with the fire alarm sounding at his hotel, and Dave Brower, who is staying at the same place, confirmed he also had to leave his room for a while.

I grabbed a seat for a few minutes and fellow Michiganders Peter and Melanie Wrenn, who are now based in Indiana, came over so we could talk about the good ole days at Hazel Park and Northville Downs. I then went back over to the Kentucky Room to see who was still hanging around and John and Paula Campbell were sitting at the first table. “It’s like a marathon,” John said to me.

I went to the bathroom — there’s a reason I’m including this and it’s not TMI — and a guy came in a few seconds later. He said he wanted to introduce himself as we had chatted a second on our way out of the sale Tuesday night. It was Michael Robinson from Ohio, who had just sold one through the Hunterton Sales Agency consignment for $210,000. Included among his racehorses is Six Feet Apart, who is racing Saturday afternoon at The Red Mile in an International Stallion Stakes division.

I was getting ready to head out about 5 p.m. when Boss Kathy’s nephew, Kyle Bolon, came over to say hello. I asked Kyle how married life is going as he got married just over one year ago, and he said life is good.

My trip home was an unexpected breeze, which gave me time for a short power nap. In his genius, Nick Salvi had gone through every day and made dinner reservations at various restaurants, and last night was Tony’s at 7:30. But my trip there wasn’t a breeze.

I was the front car waiting at a red light at Broadway and Vine — one block before I would turn for Tony’s — when I saw a car coming from the other direction at a pretty high rate of speed. I cringed as I knew he was running the light and I looked over and saw a green car approaching to go through what was a green light. BAM! I knew it was coming and I said a quick prayer that the collision wouldn’t send one or both of the cars into my Altima. The green car pretty much came to a stop but the other car that was the culprit did a couple of spins before coming to a rest about 20 yards in front of me. I saw a woman come out of the passenger seat of the green car and the driver of the car that caused the whole thing moved his car off to the side. With everybody involved looking OK, I headed on to Tony’s.

I met Nick and Dave Brower at Tony’s and maitre d’ LD came over and said we’d be seated as soon as the couple at our table leaves. The couple was former UK star quarterback Tim Couch and his wife, Heather, a former Playmate of the Year and a model for a spell on The Price Is Right. Tim and Heather live in Lexington and they are regulars at Tony’s. Our problem was that the couple out on date night lingered at their table so LD finally pulled another table over for us right by the front door.

Gabe Prewitt was invited to join us but he turned us down so he could watch the Dodgers/Cardinals playoff game. Gabe is a big Dodgers fan so I’m sure he was roaring when Chris Taylor hit the walk-off home run in the ninth inning to win it for the team. It’s been a big week for Gabe as he also celebrated the UK victory last Saturday night over Florida. Go easy on your voice Gabe, The Red Mile needs its announcer for the last three race cards on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Shortly after our threesome sat down, the Couchs left, and it was perfect timing for Ron and Diane Burke and Joe Koury as they got the Couch table. Jim Campbell came over on his way out to say hello, as did Jerry Silva. Casie Coleman went by and said hello as well.

Today is also a special day at the Kentucky Horse Park as a statue of the Kentuckiana Farms-bred, Bob McIntosh-trained Staying Together will be unveiled. The $1.69 million-winning Staying Together — the 1993 Horse of the Year — had been residing in the Hall of Champions at the Horse Park until he died in late October 2019. Boss Kathy will be out there for the ceremony this afternoon. Remember that Thursday’s third session of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale will again go at 3 p.m.

I won’t bore you with the gas prices as it’s still the same $3.15 at most stations, a few pennies less if you look around. And while we’re expecting some more rain tonight in Lexington, the next three days look clear. Predicted highs for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are 75, 79 and 81, respectively.