Ready to turn the page to 2011

It was wonderful to read the 2010 retrospectives offered by both the Michigan-bred Claimer and Brooklyn Backstretch on their respective websites. Both are Thoroughbred Times colleagues and friends, and it was a pleasure sharing many of my own 2010 memories with them.

Unfortunately, the biggest story of my 2010 was an abysmal performance at the betting windows where I lost 25% of the money I wagered to mark my worst year of horseplaying of my life and first down year since 2007. Losing more than the average rake doesn't help churn, and my handle was down from its record level in 2009.

The positive spin is that I did very well in the fourth quarter, although I realize saying that indicates just how abominable the first nine months must have been! I'm hoping the positive momentum carries into the New Year where I'm very excited to play Gulfstream even though that meet stymied me in 2010.

I hate to dwell on the wagering numbers because A) they stink, and B) the horses are the stars and I'd rather remember 2010 for what they accomplished, but I like being straightforward about the bad of my gambling exploits because God knows I'll shout it from the rooftops the next time I hit a big one.

From a racing standpoint, I find it very difficult to look past the Breeders' Cup World Championships as the top event this year with this renewal of the Breeders' Cup Classic certainly adding its name to the list of my grandchildren races.

The two-day event also featured Goldikova winning her third consecutive Breeders' Cup Mile, Uncle Mo crushing a field of two-year-olds, and Shared Account winning the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf to give my good friend Sean Feld as an exciting a moment you can have in racing as well as a little national exposure.

Two small tracks helped make big memories, as I returned to Ellis Park for the first time since 2007 and partook in the excellent burger with the aforementioned Michigan-bred Claimer. A couple months later I saw champion Lookin At Lucky win the Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park, which came to life despite poor weather conditions and loved having Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in attendance.

The weather on Kentucky Derby day was as miserable as you can imagine, but the weather for the race was clear, prompting Churchill Downs Vice President of Communications John Asher to remark, "This is bigger than all of us."

The Derby also provided the impetus for possibly my best interview of the year, as I was among the first to talk with Glen Fullerton about the $100,000 wager he earned the right to make on the Derby. He ended up putting it on Super Saver for a $900,000 score.

So Fullerton's year was more prosperous than mine wagering wise, but memories last far longer than money. Thanks to all the horses and humans who made 2010 one to remember.