Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem for Nov. 10, 2025

A good Monday morning to you all! The first weekend of racing post Breeders’ Cup always feels like a bit of a hangover-type weekend. Fall sports are in full swing, and I think for a lot of us, it’s natural to feel a bit of a letdown after such a big event that encompasses so much of our attention (and bankrolls!) I think for a lot of people the next couple of months are the “off season” regarding racing and horseplaying. Of course, there’s still lots of racing and plenty going on, but with the holidays and the Breeders’ Cup so fresh in the rearview mirror, I think it’s just a bit quieter time. 

That said, the stretch of time from mid-October through the holidays is one of my favorite times of the racing year. Of course, selfishly, Tampa Bay Downs kicks off next week, and I’ll certainly write about that plenty as the season goes on. I love this winter meet down here in part because it never really feels like winter. But it’s good racing, lots of turf, and just an amazing spot to spend the “chilly months.” 

However, aside from Tampa, there’s a big shift in the number of race tracks opening, including Fair Grounds next Thursday and the Gulfstream Championship meet not far behind. Turfway has become one of the more popular wintertime signals, and that’s getting cranked up in a few weeks. It really is a changing of the seasons in the racing world as well as the general world at large. 

Sometimes, meets can slow down as they end. There are some meets where horsemen might be waiting for a big meet that’s soon to follow, or they want to get to the next place. But right now, there’s a handful of meets that have some really excellent racing, and I wanted to spotlight three of them: Churchill, Woodbine, and Laurel. I think all of them have a bit of urgency as turf racing in each of their states/provinces winds down this time of year. If you want to run on grass in Kentucky after Churchill, you have to wait til Keeneland next spring. Same for Laurel as they wind down their turf course for the season. And Woodbine, of course, shuts down completely in a few weeks. 

So there’s a demand to run in the remaining races, and for us players, that often leads to big fields and some interesting betting options. There are few things more enjoyable to me than a big 13- or 14-horse field at Woodbine in late November as the snow is falling from the sky. It’s just wildly enjoyable to watch and play. 

Laurel’s fall meet is always a bit of a sleeper, but the cards the last few weeks have all boasted good weather and big fields on grass, as those horses won’t be able to run on the lawn much longer in the Mid-Atlantic until next spring at the earliest. Sure, some might come to Tampa or Gulfstream, but many will wait for next spring in Maryland or somewhere nearby. So the entry boxes have been flowing at Laurel. 

Churchill’s fall meet has always been my favorite Churchill meet. Of course, the Derby is the centerpiece of the season in the spring, but the buildup to the big Thanksgiving stakes in Louisville is filled with some awesome races. The Clark (G2) is often one of the last big older horse races of the year and always seems to bring out a star or two, and the turf stakes, like this past weekend’s River City (G3), are just phenomenal events. 

So yes, it might be “off-season” for many, but there’s still a lot to be had. Hopefully, you enjoy these next few weeks as we build towards the holiday. One of the great truths of our game is that there is always a tomorrow in horse racing. Well, except for Christmas. But you know what I mean. 

Have a great week, everyone!