by Gordon Waterstone

We went from summer to fall overnight here in the Bluegrass. After a string of 80-plus-degree days, the temperatures in Lexington were expected to drop to the low 70s on Friday and then the high 50s on Saturday and Sunday. In fact, I might need to bring out the scraper Sunday morning as we could have some frost with temperatures dipping into the high 30s.

So, the hopes of world records being smashed over the weekend look to be tempered a bit now. But wow! What a race card on Sunday! Of the top 10 horses in the weekly Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, seven will be in action on Sunday, including a highly-anticipated match-up of No. 1 Confederate and No. 2 It’s My Show in a Tattersalls division for 3-year-old male pacers.

Of the remaining three of the top 10 not in action on Sunday, two — 2-year-olds Geocentric and Karl — raced on Friday afternoon. The only top 10 member MIA is older pacer Tattoo Artist. Going deeper, of the top-20 point-getters in the poll, 14 will be on the famed Red Mile racetrack on Sunday.

The Lexington Selected Yearling Sale at Fasig-Tipton continues to be strong through four days of selling. My Backstretch sponsors, Steve and Cindy Stewart’s Hunterton Sales Agency, have had a great sale, selling 90 thus far for a gross of $10,086,000. Hunterton stands second on that list, behind only Preferred Equine, which has sold 133 for a gross of $10,263,500.

The leading buyer through four days is Tony Alagna, who has spent more than $4.5 million in bringing home 32 yearlings. The new Armitage Farm, which I wrote about in an earlier Backstretch, has been busy as they stock their new 500-plus-acre farm in Midway, as they’ve purchased 15 yearlings for slightly more than $2 million. That’s nice to see, especially since I know that’ll keep Larry “Bones” Rathbone busy.

Still not feeling 100 per cent on Thursday, I declined a dinner offer from Joe Holloway and Karl Nagle to go to Heirloom in Midway. I also received a most generous offer from Judy Wilson and Tom Charters to join them at OBC Kitchen, across the street from where I live in Lexington, telling them that I’d rather stay home and have a can of spaghetti.

I was probably dumb not wearing a jacket Friday morning on my trek to Red Mile, but I figured it’d be the last day I could get away with it. I’ll admit it was a bit chilly, especially with cloudy and windy conditions. I was once again disappointed that the breakfast tables were empty, so I began my walk through the barn area.

Things are winding down so it was a bit quieter than it’s been. I saw Brian Brown sitting in the same spot I left him on Thursday, so I asked if he simply slept in the chair. We talked a few minutes and then Bob Boni came over, as did Eli Miller from Spring Run Farm in Ohio. Miller received a phone call so he walked away, but I continued to stay as Bob and Brian talked horses. I can tell you that the conversation was fascinating as I tried to take it all in.

I started to walk back over to the breakfast tables in hopes that food might have magically appeared, and as I did, I almost got run over by Chris Ryder on his way to the track with a horse. And then I almost got run over by Cindy Solverson, who came jetting past me on a golf cart.

I walked around to take a seat on The Deck. I had looked elsewhere to find a seat but since we had some rain on Thursday night most spots were wet, but since The Deck is covered, I knew I’d be dry there. Nick Salvi arrived shortly after and took the seat next to me and we talked for a few minutes. Nick told me that Bill Bigler had arrived from Florida on Thursday, and I’m looking forward to seeing Mr. Bigler. Howard Okusko yelled over at Nick and I as he was coming off the track.

Since it’d now been an hour since I arrived at The Red Mile, I gave one final look at the breakfast tables just in case, but no luck. I did look over and see Boni and Brown still engaged in conversation. I received a phone call from Hambeltonian — sorry, Hambletonian — Society COO Moira Fanning, so I plopped myself down in a chair in Team Miller’s barn. The grill was already going and it smelled good, but I learned that the six packages of chicken breasts had yet to be opened. I can report that the breasts were soon cooking.

Another thing I can report is that a new, large-screen TV is in place in the paddock, replacing the one that was stolen. Sadly, I have to report that there have been other thefts over the course of these two weeks, and I know that the father of a driver had his belongings stolen and some other people lost cash and possessions they had left in their cars. Please, please, lock your car if you’re at the racetrack!

I was surprised to see Monticello Raceway’s Shawn Wiles in the house Friday. He told me he left home around 5:30 Thursday afternoon and arrived in Lexington around 6:30 Friday morning. That’s a long drive from New York to Kentucky.

Jim Campbell, wearing his lucky hat, walked by and said hello, as did Curby Stillings, who was not wearing a lucky hat.

I heard Friday morning that Charlie Norris is also now on the Taylor Swift bandwagon and he’ll be joining Mike Wilder and Rod Bolon on their trip to Minnesota in hopes of seeing the pop star sensation rooting on boyfriend Travis Kelce Sunday night when the Chiefs play the Vikings. I hate to tell the Three Swift Musketeers that I heard on the radio that she might not be in attendance. The reason? She was heading to The Meadowlands to spend some time with Jason Settlemoir.

What a glorious Friday afternoon it was at The Red Mile. There was a big crowd on hand, and as I was walking on the apron, I heard somebody yell my name. I turned around and it was Michiganders Ed and Cheryl Sayfie. It was great to have a chance to see and talk to them for a few minutes. We talked about the future of racing in Michigan, which is up in the air with the selling of Northville Downs and attempts of the Carlo family to build a new racetrack currently stalled. I told the Sayfies that if I won the Powerball drawing for $1.4 billion Saturday night, I’d build a racetrack myself in Michigan.

I stopped in the office to ask Bessie for a program, and younger Frank Antonacci and brother Phil came through and said hello. I went outside and Jessica Otten came past and also said hi. I walked behind the boxes and ran into Wealth To Wealth’s Matt Franklin, and we talked racing for a few minutes. Jeff Gural came walking by and said hello and shook my hand, and then he told me, “You know, I like reading your goofy column!” Thanks Jeff, I’ll take the compliment.

I walked downstairs and saw Ed Burke, my lifelong Michigan friend and former mutuel clerk at Northville Downs and Hazel Park, sitting on a bench. I joined him and while I was distracting him, the first race went off and it was won by a 27-1 longshot driven by Ake Svanstedt. Burke told me he loves betting Svanstedt every race, but forgot since I was talking to him. I kind of felt bad, but he told me not to worry about it. Shortly after I walked away, Burke texted me that he had indeed wagered on the horse early but had forgotten about it.

I also saw other Michiganders like Mike Micallef and Lee and Denna Sattelberg. I also ran into Milt Leeman, who was really looking forward to seeing Geocentric, who he owns in partnership, go for her eighth win in a row in race 7. Wally Mann walked by and he also said hello.

I saw Leonard Hammond sitting on a bench so we talked for a few minutes. Leonard is the father of Trish Hammond and the husband of Norine Hammond, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. I adore the Hammonds and it’s always great to see them. Leonard told me Trish and Ashley Tetrick had gone off somewhere, so hopefully I will run into them.

I went back upstairs and saw Jay Farrar, Maggie LeClair, Tom Charters and Judy Wilson in a box together. I walked over and plopped myself down in the Hambletonian Society box to watch race 3, the match-up between first-year trotters Karl and T C I. Paul Kelley joined me, and when the two trotters crossed the wire together, Paul though T C I won and I thought Karl won. When we watched the replay, Paul came over to my side and gave the nod to Karl. Alas, we were both wrong as the photo finish showed T C I’s nose in front. There was no disputing Geocentric’s victory as she pulled away in deep stretch to stretch her perfect record to eight wins in eight starts.

Saturday is the one-year anniversary of the passing of Dave Brower here in Lexington. I remember that awful morning, first getting a text from Gabe Prewitt if I had talked to Dave, and then calling Kelly Young in hopes of finding a phone number so Dave’s sister, Laura, could be informed of what happened. Kelly didn’t have a number when I called, but she soon texted me Laura’s number, and I gave my phone to Cindy Solverson so she could see the number and make the call. Laura arrived in Lexington Thursday night and I believe her plans include the scattering of some of Dave’s ashes on the racetrack.

I have to finish up my writing as I need to go purchase some Powerball tickets for Saturday night’s drawing. With sports wagering now allowed in Kentucky, and a planned Las Vegas trip for December, I could really use the $1.4 billion being offered.

I have been remiss in not thanking Adam Bowden and Shawn Laungani for inviting me to share in their lunches they had available in the backstretch during the Kentucky Sires Stakes championships. The lunch was for the backstretch workers, but Adam told me that since I work the backstretch, I could join in.

Finally, gas prices remain stagnant in Lexington, and I read somewhere that they should continue to fall through the fall. I’ll be back with you one more time on Sunday morning, thanks to Boss Dave and Editor Debbie for helping me through this year’s Backstretch columns. And of course, thanks to Hunterton Farms/Sales Agency for their generous sponsorship.