Monday Morning Message with Jason Beem Aug. 19, 2024

A good Monday morning to you all! Of course the weekend after Tropical Storm Debby arrived here in Virginia and we had zero stakes races, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect here at Colonial Downs. Meanwhile up in Toronto, the poor folks at Woodbine had to deal with a monsoon during one of their biggest cards of the year. Weather can be such a frustrating part of this game. But alas, we move onward. 

One place that looked to have a perfect summer evening under the lights on Saturday was Charlottetown for their annual Gold Cup and Saucer race. I’m a pretty casual fan of harness, and outside of the Hambletonian or just wanting to support something my buddy Gabe Prewitt is doing, I don’t watch much of it. However, the Gold Cup and Saucer card is one of those events that is mandatory viewing for me. 

Announcer Vance Cameron is a big reason why, as his passion pours out of the speakers for these races. As they’re behind the gate for the big one, he dubs it “the greatest Canadian horse race on a half-mile track.” And I’m just going to assume he’s correct on that. I don’t know any of the drivers, the trainers, or the horses, but I was transfixed on the broadcast for well over two hours last night. 

The track looks packed, and it looks like such a fun event to go to. The ease of being able to bet from your phone or computer is a great thing, but having spent many days at racetracks calling when there’s only a smattering of people there, I can tell you that nothing will ever match a night at the races with a big crowd. It’s just the best. Racing is meant to be a live and visceral experience when possible. And the people of Prince Edward Island certainly show up every year for the Gold Cup and Saucer. 

In the era of national simulcasting, it’s true that most of our customers each day are not at the track. So when local tracks get to truly celebrate with their community a big night of racing, I think it’s something to really embrace. 

They were doing a parade of sorts before the big race, and it was amazing how many of the presenters had parents who had been presenters 20 years ago. I so love when racing is a bond between generations. I assume that there are thousands of people, who, no matter what is going on in their lives, make it a point to go out to Charlottetown that night each year and enjoy the Gold Cup and Saucer. 

Recently I got a text from a good friend back home who said he heard me call our final race on Arlington Million Day on TV. I asked him how he stumbled into that because he’s not really a racing guy. He said he was sitting down to watch the Longacres MiIe, which he does every year. It’s a tradition for him, just like the Gold Cup and Saucer is for the folks in PEI, just like so many other races are for their locale. 

We’re a national – heck, international – sport. But I think sometimes the best of our game comes at the local level.  

Everyone have a great week!