Backstretch with Gordon

Friday night would have been a great night, considering the company, but watching the Tigers blow a 5-0 lead and going a game up on already-lost Minnesota with two to play, was depressing. Still, having dinner with the USTA’s Paul Ramlow and then later talking with Kevin Decker of ExpressBet for about an hour, made it a nice evening.

It was another fine day of racing at The Red Mile on Friday, with the races held under pleasant conditions. How about “P Glide,” as she’s becoming known, winning her 10th straight. And how about trainer Jimmy Takter and the job he’s done with her, nursing her through a hamstring injury to win the Hambletonian Oaks and getting her back into top form. Jimmy is having a standout year, including his Jug winner Mr. Feelgood.

Speaking of Mr. Feelgood, he’s right back in tonight at Mohawk in an Ontario Sire Stakes Gold elimination where he’ll take on the diminutive-but-powerful Doonbeg. After dinner with Paul we wandered over to Buffalo Wild Wings so we could watch the Tigers (once again, how could they lose that game and why did third-base coach Gene Lamont send the guy from third on a short flyout to left field?), and Mark MacDonald, who drives Mr. Feelgood, came in.

Mark saw me and came over and thanked me for giving him a couple of this week’s Horseman And Fair World that told the tale of the Jug. Mark said to me, and I’m using his exact words, “That magazine was the greatest one I’ve ever seen. Especially the pictures.” It WAS loaded with great pictures, and he said he was thrilled with the seeing the close-up shot of him in the sulky that was taken by Chris Gooden.

Mark added that he has a chartered plane waiting for him at Bluegrass Airport so he can arrive at Mohawk in time to drive Mr. Feelgood, who is in the 10th race. He also has some earlier drives, one of which is Up Front Dragonfly in the Milton final.

There were plenty of horsemen around last night, which is one of the great things of the last two weeks of racing in Lexington. I had a chance to casually shoot the breeze with several drivers and trainers last night, who stopped by to say hello to Paul and I. And then Kevin Decker came over, and it was non-stop laughing at his tales, which came at a great time because it helped getting over the Tigers losing.

First thing Kevin did though was rub it in about the ballgame, and how the Tigers could lose to the Royals. But then I pointed out the season the Pirates had, and he quickly changed the subject to racing. He certainly had some great stories to tell. Kevin said he’ll be commentating on next Saturday’s Kentucky Futurity card on HRTV as he’s been doing in the past.

And if you think this stuff is good, wait until you see our Today @ Lexington sheet that debuts today. You can click the banner on the right side of the home page of harnessracing.com and download the sheet to find out what’s going on around here, and if you’re at The Red Mile the sheet will be available at programs stands at the track, and they’ll also be at Fasig-Tipton during the sale. A wrap-up of that day’s racing action, as well as sale results and late-breaking news, can be found.

Gas prices remain the same from yesterday. And thanks to all, especially Northfield Park’s Keith Gisser who rubbed it in by telling me of $1.97 a gallon found in Cleveland, for sending in their local prices. See you again on Wednesday.

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