Thursday Thoughts with Jason Beem for Feb. 20, 2025

Jason discusses the concept of "hope" within horse racing and betting. 

A good Thursday morning to you all! Gotta admit I’m kind of curious to see how the Rebel Stakes (G2) performs on Sunday as far as handle and interest because to me it’s probably the most interesting prep of the season so far. Let's hope the weather improves as expected and we get to see it contested over a fast track.  

Earlier this week I came across a quote from the late, great comedian Norm MacDonald. I used to always love how sensitive Norm could be and then mix that with just being insanely direct and abrasive. Comedy is subjective, but he often was one of my favorites. But Norm was also a gambler. I remember in 2002 he was actually playing poker in the Mirage a couple tables down from me one night. He was playing 20/40 Limit Hold-em which was too rich for my blood or else I’d have sat down just to play cards with him. 

His quote was “As long as the dice are in the air, the gambler has hope. And hope is a wonderful thing to be addicted to,” he said. Now the last two words conjure up some strong feelings because of the addictive nature gambling can take. Norm even talked about how he’d gone broke from gambling a few times in his life, so I believe he was being intentional with his words. But the word “hope” was the one that I think truly made the quote for me. 

Horse racing is full of people who have hope. I don’t think you can truly be involved in any part of the game without it. We’re a sport of dreamers and a game of players who believe that with the right decisions and the right ticket, we might strike it rich. Or at least pay the bills for a few months. Every time you crack open your past performances, don’t you feel that little flicker of “could this be the day?” It’s one of my favorite parts of horse racing is that something special and incredible can happen every day. 

A family friend of mine, Dr. Jack Root, owns and breeds horses out in Oregon. Jack stands Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Grindstone and ever since I’ve known him and his family, more than 15 years, they’ve been very involved in breeding and racing. Dr. Jack is also a veterinarian. I remember one time walking around their family farm, Oakhurst Farm, and Dr. Jack was visiting with some of the yearlings. He told me, with complete sincerity, “one of these horses might win the Kentucky Derby.” No Oregon-bred horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby and I’m not even sure if one has ever run in the race? I always thought Jumron, who ran fourth in the 1995 edition of the Kentucky Derby, was an Oregon-bred, but he just started his career at Portland Meadows.  

But Dr. Jack has hope. I’ve always loved that about him. And so do so many people in our game. I think it’s the hope that drives so many of us to keep with it when times aren’t going so well. I remember being a fledgling announcer at Portland Meadows and always hoping that someday I’d get to call a graded stakes race. I had hope. 

My other favorite quote about hope is from Shawshank Redemption. Midway through the movie Red tells Andy that, “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” And of course at the end, in his letter Andy tells Red, “Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.” I don’t know how anyone lives or pursues anything worthwhile without hope. I feel like when things are hard, it’s important to cling to that hope. That maybe, someday, it will be realized. 

Have a great week everyone!