by Gordon Waterstone

Brrrr!!! Saturday morning in Lexington was cold, and as you are reading this on Sunday morning, it’s even colder. When I woke up Saturday morning it was 42 degrees — 6 degrees for the Canadians — and Sunday’s lows are expected to dip into the 30s — about 4 Canadian.

I didn’t want to, but I had to turn the heat on at home Saturday morning. And I had to finally put on a jacket when I went outside. I don’t think I’ve had that jacket on since April.

With things winding down in Lexington, I expected things to be slow at Red Mile on Saturday morning, and they were. I won’t bore you with the usual names of people who said hello as you’ve read them enough. I was glad though that I made myself some eggs and toast before I made the trip Saturday.

I was surprised I was as hungry as I was after a big meal at Columbia’s Steak House Friday night. I felt a little guilty not dining at Le Deauville, which is just across the street from Columbia’s, but I did stick my head in there briefly first to say hello to Kameron, who was tending bar. I wasn’t sure about dinner plans, but after taking a late afternoon power nap, made a call to Judy Wilson, who told me they were heading to Columbia’s.

I joined Wilson, Tom Charters, Kim Rinker and her 96-year-old father, Don, at Columbia’s. I arrived first and when I walked in I saw Lee and Denna Sattelberg, and their group included Chris McKee. I really couldn’t see who else was at the table because it was dark in the corner where they were sitting. Columbia’s Steak House has been an institution in Lexington for 75 years, and I joked to our server that Don was 21 when the place opened. It also used to be a favorite spot of the late Hazel Park/Northville Downs/Detroit Race Course announcer Jack Riggs. After I moved to Lexington, I would meet Jack and his wife, Nancy, at Columbia’s on their way to and from their winter home in Florida.

I was surprised to learn later that my dinner foursome went out to Fasig-Tipton to catch the end of the sale action. As Boss Dave wrote in Saturday’s HRU, the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale concluded Friday night with 12 records set, including a gross of almost $68 million.

Congratulations to my sponsors, Steve and Cindy Stewart’s Hunterton Sales Agency, for being the sale’s leading consignor with 11 yearlings selling for $10,654,000. The honors broke a 10-year stranglehold on that list by Dave Reid’s Preferred Equine, who was second this year, just $93,000 behind from 145 yearlings sold. Of course, I’m going to take all the credit for Hunterton taking the top spot this year, giving them all the exposure by sponsoring the 21^st year of Backstretch With Gordon.

My only real regret from the sale is not having any time to hang with Heather Vitale. She kept herself busy doing videos for HRU, and kudos to her for doing a great job.

I did receive another text message from Bob Wingfield, telling me that he and his wife, Barb, were on their way home from their excursion across the world that took them to places like Greece, Egypt and Israel. After seeing the news early Saturday morning, I’m glad the Wingfields are safe and winging their way home. Bob told me their plane lands first in New York City before arriving in Detroit on Saturday night. I replied that he would have plenty of time then to drive to Red Mile for today’s Kentucky Futurity Day card. Bob then replied that he wasn’t keen on that idea.

When I arrived at Red Mile for Saturday’s races, I saw Gift Shop Jeremy doing cartwheels. Jeremy loves when the weather turns cold during the two weeks of major stakes racing as people arrive in Lexington prepared for warmer weather, and when they need to find something to keep them warm when the temperatures dip, he’s prepared. I know he made my friend Kim Rinker very happy when she stopped in to see the offerings on Saturday.

I went up to see Bessie to get a couple of programs — Ex-Boss Kathy asked for one today — and Trophy Gal Jenna Otten was there picking up some trophies. I kind of followed Jenna back down to her table by the winner’s circle, and Judith Berkshire Jones was sitting in her usual spot by the apron wall. She came over to say hello and said she enjoyed reading Backstretch. Thanks!

I had seen Winbak Farm’s Jeff Fout earlier at the races so I was hoping to get a chance to catch up with him since we didn’t really say much to each other. One of the first stories I did after starting with The Horseman And Fair World back in 1998 was with Fout, who was gracious to let me spend an evening with him while he raced at Lebanon Raceway. I asked a couple of people and found out that Fout had already left Lexington to head home.

I walked the apron and found a bench that was in the sun. If you were sitting in the shade, combined with the wind, it was pretty brisk out there. Nick Salvi walked by and invited me to join him in his apron box, so I tagged along. As I sat down, I saw Michiganders Ed Burke and Wendy Janes, so we chatted for a couple minutes.

Bill Bigler soon joined Salvi and I. Bigler has never gotten the hang of calling me Waterstone, and instead it’s been Witherspoon. There’s a story behind why he calls me Witherspoon, but sometimes things are just better left unsaid. Not sure the story would pass the censors. Bigler was with Shane Arsenault, who made the trek to Lexington from Canada. Dave Stolz also joined us in the box.

I decided to take a stroll up the apron and it was good timing as my friend Chasity called. I can say that after finally getting her to come to Red Mile, I’ve converted her into a harness fan. As I hung up from her, Dewayne Minor came over to say hello. I then saw, for a minute, Mark Weaver and Jerry Silva.

I saw Lexington Selected Yearling Sale co-manager Bruce Brinkerhoff sitting on a bench so I went and joined him. He told me that the sale held a moment of silence on Thursday night for Abe Stoltzfus, who died while at Fasig-Tipton on Wednesday night. James Platz, who helped Boss Dave garner quotes at the sale, saw us and came over to say hello.

I walked over near the trophy table and saw Kentuckiana Farms’ Ken Jackson. We talked some about the sale and racing, and we also compared notes on sushi and football. Kentucky played Georgia Saturday night in Georgia, and with my deadline coming earlier than the game, if the Wildcats somehow win to go 6-0, I’m sure it was a night of celebrating in Lexington. If not, it was likely very, very quiet.

Apologies go to the camp of 2-year-old trotter T C I. In Saturday’s Backstretch I mistakenly noted that peer Karl was in the top 10 of the weekly Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, when in fact it was T C I. Karl was just outside the top 10. And with the narrowest of victories Friday afternoon over Karl, T C I has safely secured his place in the top 10.

Good luck to Mike Wilder, Rod Bolon and Charlie Norris on their quest to see Taylor Swift on Sunday at the Vikings/Chiefs game. I’ve since learned that Roger Huston is jumping off the beleaguered Steelers bandwagon and will be joining them. Roger told me he is determined to prove that Swift “belongs with me.” I’m sure Swift will shake it off.

A direct message to Garnet Barnsdale: You want a sure bet? Make a hefty wager that by the Super Bowl in February Swift will have written at least two songs about her ex-boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Best wishes go to Cindy Solverson, Red Mile’s longtime director of sponsorships, who is retiring as of the close of racing on Sunday. Solverson has told me in years past she was going to retire, but she told me this time she means it. What a great job Solverson has done for Red Mile — just look at all those banner ads stretched across the homestretch and program ads — and she will be missed. It will be hard to replace her.

So, this is it. My final Backstretch column for HRU in 2023. I turned 21 this year. Will there be a year 22? I can’t answer that right now. If not, thanks to everyone for reading and for all the kind comments, texts and calls I’ve received over the years. It’s hard to believe that this goofy idea Ex-Boss Kathy came up with in 2003 would last this long. Apologies to all those who I spoke to but failed to mention. I tried to remember everybody, but sometimes I forgot and, truthfully, sometimes I couldn’t remember names.

Thanks to Boss Dave Briggs for reaching out to my agents Nick Salvi and Amy Hollar to secure the contract for this year’s Backstretch. Thanks to Associate Editor Debbie for her editing. Thanks to the Stewart’s Hunterton Farm/Hunterton Sales Agency for their kind generosity in sponsoring the column. Steve told me a few years ago he was in it for the long haul with me, and he’s kept his word.

So, as I head back into hibernation — hopefully $1.4 billion richer after winning Saturday night’s Powerball drawing — I leave y’all with this: $3.35-$3.59!