A celebration of Moira

by Gordon Waterstone

What a great celebration party I was invited to on Thursday night at Frank And Dino’s in downtown Lexington. I can’t thank Hambletonian Society president John Campbell for asking me to come celebrate the Detroit Tigers win over Cleveland in the AL Wild Card round earlier in the day that sent the baseball team to the divisional round.

Oh wait? The party wasn’t for the Tigers? Actually, the gathering of about 50 people were there to celebrate the career of Hambletonian Society COO Moira Fanning, who keeps on insisting she is retiring. It’s hard to see that totally happening as Moira has already begun talking about plans for the 2026 Hambletonian (at The Meadowlands) and Breeders Crowns (at Scioto Downs), as well as the 2027 Hambletonian (TBA) and Breeders Crowns (at The Red Mile).

Moira’s husband Tom and Gunjan Patel were tasked in getting Moira to Frank And Dino’s under cover, where we all gathered in the private party room. Thursday Night Live was taking place across the street from the restaurant so it was very busy downtown, and the place was filled from front to back.

Moira was very surprised when she pulled back the curtain to the room and saw the crowd, who gave her nice applause. John Campbell later made some remarks, giving Moira high praise, as well as a nice gift on behalf of the Society. I first met Moira back in 1987 when the Breeders Crown 2FT came to Hazel Park and we’ve been friends ever since, and if someone deserves high celebration, it’s her.

I sat at a table with Chris Tully, Diane Otten, Emily Ratcliff and her sister, Amanda Gaskin, and the girls’ father Ernie Gaskin. It was great catching up with Ernie, and we reminisced about the good old days when he was an assistant to trainer Billy Haughton.

Hazel Park was owned back then by Don MacFarlane, and Don owned horses that were in the Haughton barn. Ernie talked about a trio of MacFarlane-owned trotters in Cold Comfort, Green Speed, and Keystone Pioneer. I brought up Don’s top pacer Trenton Time, and Ernie reminded me that it was Trenton Time who won the race back in 1980 when Niatross went over the hub rail at Saratoga.

Tom Charters told me he thought I should list everybody who was in the room, but that’s not happening. I will simply say that the room was filled with some racing heavyweights. I will also say that I believe ex-Boss Kathy and I have finally broken up because while she always has saved me a seat at her table when we have functions, that wasn’t the case this time. But Kathy called me early Friday morning to apologize profusely that she had no room at her table.

Frank And Dino’s owner Carlo Vaccarezza was in the house Thursday night and I saw him check in a few times. Later in the night Carlo brought the house saxophonist into the room and he serenaded Moira as she blew out the candle on her cake. The saxophonist also played the “Call to the Post” before heading back out to the main part of the restaurant.

I wanted to stay longer but I had another important mission to complete before the night was over. I headed directly to Target where I stood in line for three hours to get the new Taylor Swift album that was released at midnight. While there I picked up a Bad Bunny album as well, as I want to be prepared for the halftime show at Super Bowl 60, especially since I’m hoping my Lions will finally make it.

As I was getting ready to head to The Red Mile for Friday’s races, I heard that a transformer had blown around 4:30 a.m. that resulted in a loud boom and sparks flying, as well as flickering lights. When I got to the track, I walked to the barn area to see what I could learn, and I was told that the situation came when Chris Tully tried to once again toast a bagel and the toaster started smoking.

I saw Justin MacEachern, who works for Nancy Takter, and asked if he had been around that early to know what happened. Justin told me that he was, and that he heard some sizzing, and then there was a loud boom, and then there were fireworks coming from the transformer. He said one by one the lights in the barns went out, but they quickly came back on. Thankfully, there was no other damage.

I then made my way over to the area where Winbak Farm was hosting an appreciation lunch. When I made my way to the front of the line to get my food, I was surprised that Michael Carter wasn’t there. Every photo I’ve seen this week of the Winbak crew has Michael in it, so I expected him to be back there helping dish out the food. I had a hamburger and hot dog, as well as baked beans and chips. I took my food and sat with Denna Sattelberg and Patty Wright, who had spots under a tent. Thanks Winbak for your generosity.

I started to walk back and Norm Parker was coming the other way and he remarked that my maroon shirt matched his stable colors. I then decided to make my way up to the track to grab a program from Bessie and find a seat.

I first sat with Nick Salvi in his apron box, but then realized I better go back to my car to get a hat as it was hot and sunny. I saw Dr. Katie Flynn as I began my trek, but I had to wait as Gabe Prewitt announced the playing of the National Anthem. I was smart though as I took a few steps toward Katie as she was standing in the shade. I proudly stand for our country, but I didn’t want to melt while doing it.

I watched some races from a box and when I got up to find a bottle of water, I bumped into Jeff Gural. Jeff actually remarked to me that now I can write I saw him, and he again told me he enjoys reading the column.

I wrote earlier about my hopes that The Meadowlands retains the Hambletonian and that I was not in favor of the race going to Woodbine Mohawk Park. A couple people have whispered to me that they heard my Breeders Crown credentials for the upcoming Breeders Crown races that will be held at that track in Canada have been revoked because of my sentiment.

Let me say that I think Canadians are great. Some of my best friends are Canadian. There is only one Canadian that I can say a bad word about, otherwise I have nothing but praise for those north of the border. So, I hope those rumors aren’t true.

I need to mention that I made a phone call to Myron Bell while in my car heading to The Red Mile. Myron yelled at me and said when I wrote that he returned home because he wasn’t feeling 100 per cent that he got a ton of phone calls and texts trying to find out when his funeral was. Because of HIPAA I wasn’t sure about revealing his situation, but Myron told me to tell everybody that he underwent successful knee replacement surgery this past Tuesday and he is on the road to recovery.

There’s still a couple of days of racing left to pay a visit to Jeremy in the track gift shop on the main floor of the grandstand. With the weather staying so hot I’m sure his warm weather garb sales are slow, so be sure to go see him and take home a nice souvenir from this year’s race meet.

It was a great day for horse racing in the Bluegrass on Friday as it was also Keeneland’s opening day, and I bet that the attendance for both tracks was probably right around 30,000. The crowd at The Red Mile saw some great racing, including that 1:48 world record mile by the 2-year-old filly pacer Loua Dipa. Congrats to the connections of owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, as well as trainer Ron Burke and driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.

One thing I’m hoping for over the last two days of racing (post time today and Sunday at 1 p.m.) that Backstretch With Gordon receives a mention on the TV broadcast. I miss Dave Brower every day, but I was always grateful that Dave always seemed to give me a shoutout on a daily basis, noting something that he was just learning. I’m trying to promote The Red Mile, so it’d be nice if they’d promote me. Wouldn’t it? Garnet Barnsdale actually told me he bet under 1 on Backstretch mentions over the final two days, so hopefully he is a loser.

With no HRU on Sunday, I’ll be back for a wrap-up column on Monday. My farewell notes will also give a final tally on the Lexington Select Yearling Sale for my sponsors, Steve and Cindy Stewart’s Hunterton Sales Agency.

And I know you are all waiting for this, so I will tell you that gas prices stayed pretty much the same over the past day, ranging around $2.95-2.99.