Backstretch With Gordon: Season premiere!

by Gordon Waterstone

First and foremost, let me say I am very excited that I am back for a 2026 edition of Backstretch With Gordon, with this being the 24th year that I have been trolling happenings during the two-week Grand Circuit stand at The Red Mile, the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, and sometimes the nightlife of Lexington, which some of us call Lex Vegas.

When I signed off from The Red Mile last year, I had noted the possibility that there would be no 2026 version of Backstretch With Gordon. To say I was surprised by the response would be an understatement as I was deluged with texts and phone calls imploring me to continue on. Not only from people I knew, but also from people I did not know. But I had begun thinking that before I wore out my welcome after all these years that I would go out on my own terms.

One person I heard from who I did not know was Luis Willis, who texted me several times that he would sorely miss my columns if I didn’t continue. Luis, your words really meant a lot to me and I took them to heart. One person I do know that repeatedly asked when this year’s columns were starting was my longtime friend Allan Schott. I’ve learned over the years that when Allan talks, I need to listen.

So, after consultation with my agents Amy Hollar and Nick Salvi, who got together on behalf of myself and longtime sponsors Steve and Cindy Stewart’s Hunterton Farm and Hunterton Sales Agency with HRU editor Dave Briggs (“Boss Dave”), a very generous contract was signed. The deal was so lucrative that I don’t have to try and find a way to win a large sum of money like $100,000 in Las Vegas to put food on my table. My agents’ commissions were so great that Amy was able to throw a gargantuan party celebrating her wedding anniversary with Buck. And Nick told me that since he didn’t want his Saturday nights to be a drag, he’s planning on throwing a big party for himself.

The Red Mile has been open for racing for a couple months now, with the cards featuring Kentucky Sire Stakes divisions. Just as a lot of the country has dealt with, the summer has been blazing hot in the Bluegrass. And when it wasn’t hot it seemed like we had monster thunderstorms. A couple of cards were canceled due to the rain, and one Sunday night program was shortened by a deluge. That night’s storm came with intense lightning, with bolts flashing across the sky.

One of those bolts actually landed in the parking lot near The Red Mile paddock, with Marvin Luna’s truck receiving a direct hit. I was told there were a few horsemen nearby who felt the electrical rush when the lightning hit, but it was Marvin’s poor truck that felt the brunt. Jumping ahead to Tuesday morning for a sec, I saw Marvin as he was coming off the track and I asked if he had gotten a replacement yet. He went by so fast that I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but I believe he told me that his truck was fried and he’s still searching for a new one.

While it has been a mostly hot summer in Lexington, fall did seem to arrive last week as high temperatures plummeted from the low 90s to the low 70s, with nighttime lows dipping into the high 40s. But this week things are on the rebound as highs for the first three days of racing that get underway on Thursday (Oct. 1) are back in the 80s. In fact, we could actually see a high of 90 on Friday. But we then pay a price as the forecast for Saturday’s Kentucky Futurity day program is rain and cooler temps in the 70s.

As noted, racing will be held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons this year, with a first-race post time of 1 p.m. While the historic Kentucky Futurity has been held the second weekend, this year it has been moved up to the first weekend. The Lexington Selected Yearling Sale will get underway at 7 p.m. on Monday night (Oct. 5), continuing with 11 a.m. sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 6-7), and wrapping up Thursday night (Oct. 8) at 7 p.m. following the races.

I made my first trip this year to The Red Mile backstretch on Tuesday, and my commute to the track was a breeze. That was a result of the Lexington public schools being on fall break this week (students will return to class next Tuesday, Oct. 6). Also, the University of Kentucky football team plays at South Carolina on Saturday so we won’t have that traffic to contend with. But UK returns home on Saturday, Oct. 10 for a 7 p.m. game against LSU, so that conflicts a bit with The Red Mile’s closing-day program.

My first stop at The Red Mile Tuesday was of course to the breakfast table, with the offerings generously supplied by my sponsors Hunterton Farm. Chris Tully was hard at work trying to keep the area clean, and Agent Nick was actually waiting for me, telling me to sit at one of the tables while he brought me coffee and donuts. Nick kept asking if he could get me anything else but I told him I had to start walking around to see what was happening.

As I’ve done through the years, my first stop was at the back of the barn area where I popped in to see Roxie, who is Joe Holloway assistant Diane Lewis’ dog. I congratulated Diane on being named the Caretaker of the Year at The Red Mile. My journey on Tuesday also consisted of stopping by to see Andrew Harris Stable assistant Kayla Chappell, who was recently honored as the Caretaker of the Year at Oak Grove.

Kayla, who you hopefully read about in the Sept. 20 HRU in a great article written by Victoria Howard, also has a dog at her side. And I was honored to meet Woodford, who just last Sunday afternoon captured the Corgi Cup Championship final at The Red Mile.

In my travels, Joe Holloway helped immensely when he offered a ride in his golf cart. I think I’m a bit out of shape (no extra comments please) and wasn’t ready for what turned into a mile-and-a-half trek around the backstretch Tuesday. Joe dropped me back off near the breakfast table, which was about empty by then.

Horsepeople coming off the track and saying hello included Andy and Julie Miller, Linda Toscano, Chris Ryder, Phil Knox and PJ Fraley. Trackman Dan was lurking nearby so we talked for a second. By the way, the track lights are being turned on at 5 a.m. so people can train and then head out to look at yearlings for the upcoming sale.

I needed a break so I went into the shack that Chris Tully and Emily Ratcliff call their office. Emily came in and we spoke for a few minutes, and I had a chance to get a sneak peek at the program cover which has photos of Hambletonian champ and runner-up Apex and Big Ranger, respectively, who appear to be on course to meet up again in the Kentucky Futurity.

I need to stop here for a second and give mad props to Emily. In her role as director of sponsorships, she follows Charlie Bowen and Cindy Solverson. And Emily has done an outstanding job, one that I believe surpasses her iconic predecessors. Emily was the emcee at last week’s luncheon that formally announced that the 2027 Breeders Crown races will be coming to The Red Mile. Emily’s hard work paid off handsomely as attending dignitaries included Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton and former Kentucky State Senator Damon Thayer, the latter of whom was instrumental in securing state funding to help bring the Crown races to Lexington.

I’ll be back Wednesday at The Red Mile as I plan on attending the Futurity draw (that I’m sure will once again be hosted by Emily) that will be held at noon in The Red Mile clubhouse. I’m excited to see who joins Apex and Big Ranger (who was supplemented to the race). I’m also excited to see Brandon Blvd, arguably one of the favorites to be voted 2026 Horse of the Year, in Bluegrass 3YOCP action on Saturday, and I saw Tuesday morning that Beau Jangles, the 2025 Horse of the Year in the U.S. and Canada, will also be making the trip to compete in the Bluegrass 3YOCP.

As I was walking out, I ran into Carter Pinske so he and I chatted for a couple of minutes. Because there’s a lot going on this year during these two weeks and I’ve already written a lot here, I’ll fill you in more when I return in Friday’s HRU. The Thursday race card features several divisions of the Bluegrass 2YOFP and 2YOCT, and remember post time is 1 p.m.

Lastly, I looked at last year’s first Backstretch column and it was noted gas prices were between $2.74 and $2.79. Alas, this morning a gallon of gas cost $4.24. My great friend Bill Bigler, who spent the past few weeks in Lexington with his wife, Orietta, as they watched their 2-year-old filly Bluegrass Babe race in Sire Stakes events, asked me to include the price of diesel. How does $6.69 a gallon sound Bill?