Let ’em Run “Rear View Mirror” and look ahead to next week’s races

Let ’em Run took a look at The Cigar Mile and The Remsen, which were run at Aqueduct for the last time. At the conclusion of this meet, “The Big A’ will be no longer, as it will be taken down. Our colleague, John Kostin was there for the races.

These are the insights and breakdown of the races that were worth using the “Rear View Mirror.”

Aqueduct

Race 7 Alw 88K

On our Podcast and in the article on Florida Sports Talk, the #6 Life and Times was touted as a “can’t miss” lock, and many had the same feeling. This runner out of Justify, will be one to keep an eye on moving forward. We laid out a chalky P5 that got us to the last leg ready for a payoff…but more on that in Race 11.

Race 8 The NY Stallion Series

Viewers of the Podcast heard John break the race down perfectly. He laid out the top three finishers, and particularly the winner #8 Braverthanyoubelieve, as well as the #10 Hot Currency and #12 Daniella Maria.

Race 9 The Remsen

The top 2 finishers were touted by most pundits, as they met up here again, and produced the top two finishers again in this Derby Prep. Even more solid, was the fact that after the race, it was learned the winner #2 Paladin lost a shoe during the race, had plenty of kickback in his face, but persisted for the win: impressive for a young horse. I had the #11 Talkin, who got in a nice spot early, but looked very green when asked to move.

Race 10 The Cigar Mile

The favorite #7 Bishops Bay lived up to the favorite role, and wore down early frontrunner #2 Mika to just get 1st place. John indicated in the Podcast that he was worried that #2 Mika would cause some trouble up front, and that’s exactly what happened. The #6 Philleas Fog was on a lot of handicappers’ radar for his impressive victory in his initial race, but the #2 Mika was a little faster early on and wore that runner out, to set it up for #7 Bishops Bay.

Race 11 The NY Stallion Series

Local Parx runner, for trainer Butch Reid #2 Parker Boone was expected to wire the field, but was outdone by #9 Sunday Boy, who John did mention as a horse to use in your vertical wagers, and did hit the finish line first. The #13 Combat Mission, locked in second place, and was not on our radar.

Looking Ahead

This weekend, another Derby Prep race is on the tab, The Los Alamitos Futurity, on the line for 10 Derby points to the winner. John and I will also dive into two big races at Gulfstream Park’s Championship meet. Race 8, The Tropical Park Oaks for fillies, and Race 11, The Tropical Park Derby. Both races will be run on the turf, with full fields expected.

We will also continue to look at the last five races at Aqueduct. So tune in to our Happy Hour Podcast on Friday at 12:30 when we break down the two races from Gulfstream Park, and The Los Alamitos Futurity. Then return on Saturday, where John and I will be doing a live Podcast from Monmouth Park, where we are in a NHC Handicapping Contest, with cash prizes and two NHC seats awarded. So tune in, and catch us this weekend on multiple streaming apps and social channels.

And stay tuned, where “Fast horses, meet serious fun…at Let ’em Run”

The 115-year-old building will meet the wrecking ball early in 2026.

The doors are permanently closing at Matthews Arena in Boston. The final event, a hockey game, will take place between Boston University and Northeastern University on December 13^th. Northeastern University will tear down the 115-year-old Boston or Matthews Arena and replace it with a state of the art facility. The 1910 built arena was the home of the National Hockey League’s 1924 expansion team, the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics of the newly established Basketball Association of America in 1946. Northeastern University marketed the building as “the world’s oldest multi-purpose athletic building” and home to the “world’s oldest artificial ice sheet.” In March, 1911, the Montréal Wanderers and Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey Association played a two-game series in the new Boston arena. Two National Hockey League teams can trace their origins to the building, the  Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Carolina Hurricanes franchise began operations in the World Hockey Association as the New England Whalers in 1972. That franchise moved to Hartford in 1974 and joined the National Hockey League in 1979. The renamed Hartford Whalers remained in the city until 1997 when the franchise was relocated to North Carolina.

Northeastern University became the owner of the arena in 1979. In 2024, the school sent a letter to the Boston Planning and Development Agency outlining construction plans for a new athletic facility. The university plans to build a 290,000-square-foot facility complete with an arena and a fieldhouse with turf, basketball courts and other facilities. The Matthews Arena also played a part in the early days of Rock and Roll. On May 3^rd, 1958, a riot broke out in the arena during an Alan Freed ‘Big Beat’ Rock n Roll” show. Freed was arrested and the Boston Mayor John Hynes then banned Rock and Roll shows in Boston.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Alan Freed was arrested after a concert at the Boston Arena

Fans often start with sweepstakes casino because it’s free to enter, prizes are easy to understand, and play fits a halftime window.

Not every fan wants to track odds or grind leaderboards. Many just want a light burst of play that fits between work, dinner, and the late game. Free-to-play platforms hit that mark because they remove payment friction, keep sessions short, and wrap the experience in familiar sports rhythms. When the mechanics are simple and the rewards feel attainable, casual fans come back on their own.

The draw: zero cost entry with real community

The first hook is obvious. You can jump in without pulling out a card. That matters on busy nights when a viewer is flipping channels or catching highlights on a phone. The second hook is social. Free-to-play products build around streaks, badges, and friendly challenges that slot neatly into group chats and fan forums.

• Low pressure onboarding  Sign up, pick a game, start playing. No decision fatigue, no cashier screens. That is perfect for people who watch sports to relax.
• Progress you can see  Daily stamps, streak counters, and return tomorrow nudges create a routine that feels closer to checking scores than committing to a long session.
• Group energy  Light leaderboards and shareable milestones spark conversation without turning into high stakes contests.

Design that respects the clock

• Short session loops  Menus load fast, rounds resolve quickly, and you can finish a play streak in a few minutes. That pace makes it easy to stop at the next whistle.
• Clear rewards map  Small, frequent wins beat rare jackpots for everyday players. Seeing what today’s effort unlocks helps people decide if they have the time.
• Mobile first performance  Smooth on midrange phones with spotty Wi Fi. If the app stutters, most casuals bounce and do not return.
• Gentle reminders  Notifications tied to sports moments work better than generic pings. Your team is on in 15, grab today’s daily spins makes sense to a fan.
• Session guardrails  Reality checks, timers, and simple pause buttons help people stick to a plan. Tools you can set once and forget are the ones users keep.

Why sports calendars are the secret weapon

• Event tied drops  Small reward boosts on rivalry nights or during halftime feel like part of the show, not a sales pitch.
• Streaks that track the season  Seven day, 14 day, and month of matchdays streaks create habits without demanding daily grind.
• Theme matching  When the play theme and the on field story line up, fans lean in. A defensive duel on TV pairs well with slower, puzzle style mechanics. A high scoring night fits quick fire spins or mini games.
• Clean finales  A tidy season recap screen that shows badges earned and prizes unlocked lets people close the loop and step away feeling complete.

Responsible fun builds trust

• Plain language  Explain entries, prize odds, and daily limits in normal English. Burying rules kills trust.
• Easy exits  One tap to pause notifications, one tap to log off. When leaving feels simple people are happier to return.
• Support that answers straight  A fast reply to a basic question about prize eligibility or delivery times calms nerves and keeps word of mouth positive.
• Light touch verification when needed  If identity confirmation is required to claim a prize, say so early and list acceptable documents. Clarity beats surprise checks.

A quick starter plan for new users

• Pick a five minute window  Halftime, ad break, or a coffee line. Short windows keep it fun.
• Choose one daily checklist  Claim the daily spins or entries, finish a single streak task, then stop. Consistency beats volume.
• Review on Sunday night  Spend two minutes looking at what you unlocked. If it felt smooth, keep the routine. If not, adjust the window or the task.

Free to play platforms win casual sports fans because they match real life. Zero cost entry, short loops, and sports timed nudges make it easy to join, enjoy, and leave on time. When the experience is clear, friendly, and respectful of attention, people add it to their game day routine without thinking. That is how you build habitual engagement that lasts beyond one headline event.