Let ’em Run Happy Hour Sets the Tone for the Weekend

Friday afternoons are for racing talk, strong opinions, and getting positioned for the weekend. That is exactly what Let ’em Run presents Friday Happy Hour delivers. The show continues to grow as a go-to spot for horseplayers who want insight without the fluff.

The focus stays on upcoming cards, betting angles, and how to approach the weekend bankroll. The conversation is relaxed, but the analysis stays sharp. This is not about chasing every race. It is about finding value and understanding where the opportunities really are.

Smart Racing Talk Without the Noise

Let ’em Run Happy Hour leans into real handicapping conversations. The show breaks down form cycles, pace scenarios, and trainer intent. It avoids overcomplicating things. The goal is clarity, not confusion.

Viewers get a feel for how seasoned bettors think. That includes when to press and when to pass. It also includes understanding why certain races matter more than others. Fridays are about preparation, and the show reflects that mindset.

The atmosphere stays loose, but the information is serious. That balance is what keeps people coming back.

Saturday Brings More Let ’em Run Coverage

The conversation does not stop on Friday. Fans can also catch John Kostin and Fred York on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Their show continues the Let ’em Run approach with a deeper dive into the day’s racing action.

Kostin and York bring experience and perspective. They focus on race structure, wagering strategy, and how to attack key sequences. The show is designed to help bettors make informed decisions before post time.

Saturday’s show pairs perfectly with Friday Happy Hour. One sets the table. The other helps you eat.

Building Momentum Into the Racing Weekend

Let ’em Run continues to build a community around thoughtful racing content. The shows respect the audience’s intelligence. They also respect the difficulty of the game.

Friday Happy Hour starts the weekend with confidence. Saturday’s show sharpens the final approach. Together, they offer a complete setup for players who want to be ready when the gates open.

If you are looking for racing talk that values preparation, discipline, and smart wagering, Let ’em Run delivers exactly that.

You can watch the Friday show live here on Sports Talk Florida at 3 p.m EST.

Mesa Joins the Stadium-Village Trend

The calendar year 2026 is picking up right where 2025 ended. Another city is going to create an entertainment district with the hope of building a stadium-village. The goal is to attract a Major League Soccer franchise, a National Women’s Soccer League team, or both. The latest municipality is Mesa, Arizona, which is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Mesa is the spring training home of the Major League Baseball Chicago Cubs franchise and John Fisher’s Athletics franchise. Mesa also hosts an Arizona Fall League development team.

The Palo District Proposal

The Mesa City Council has approved the formation of the Palo District at a location where an abandoned mall is located. The district will feature restaurants, retail, lodging, offices, residences, and a “multi-use stadium that could include soccer.” The proposal promises to be an economic catalyst bringing jobs to the area. That is the standard line about these types of proposals.

“The Phoenix metropolitan area is a great place for it, and we’re able and willing to court them,” Mayor Mark Freeman said. “MLS, women’s soccer and there could be other sports venues as well.”

Quick Approval, Bigger Challenges

It took the Mesa city council about 12 minutes to approve the creation of the district. No Mesa residents attended the meeting. That was the easy part. Now comes the real work. Finding money to build the stadium-village, finding an owner, and then finding a league that wants to put a soccer team in Mesa.

There is no indication that Major League Soccer wants to expand in the near future. The league has been keeping an eye on developments in Indianapolis, where elected officials also want to build a stadium-village. The NWSL probably would have an interest in placing a team in the Phoenix area if a stadium becomes available.

Politicians Bet on Stadium-Villages

Politicians are falling in love with soccer-stadium villages. This is despite the fact there is no evidence they are an economic generator. The concept remains appealing as a way to bring sports, development, and jobs to cities. Mesa now joins the growing list of municipalities attempting to leverage this strategy for professional soccer.

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

You shouldn’t be surprised.

The only NFC team to never even get to a Super Bowl won’t be going again this year.

Minnesota’s Christmas Day win over Detroit eliminated the Lions from playoff contention and dropped the NFC North pretenders to 8-8 on the season.

“It sucks,’’ Detroit quarterback Jared Goff said. “We’ll look back at the season after next week. But yeah, it sucks.’’

How It Fell Apart

It started last offseason, just after the team that was the No. 1 seed in the NFC got bounced in their first playoff game by sixth-seeded Washington.

When the Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left to become head coach of the Chicago Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn followed and became head coach of the New York Jets it left voids on both sides of the ball that could not be filled.

It also left head coach Dan Campbell as vulnerable as Goff looked on Christmas Day against the Vikings. Campbell, who has now watched his team go from a blown NFC Championship Game to a top seed being bounced early to a .500 team, is a great motivator, an emotional wizard, a former player who tries to get the most from his team.

What Campbell isn’t good at is the x’s and o’s, the game planning, the play calling, you know actual coaching.

Same Old Lions

The crazy part of this is the Lions started the season 4-1 and were 6-3 just past the midpoint (if there’s a midpoint of a 17-game season). Losses in four of their last five games when it mattered the most has them sitting out the playoffs just like they used to do. And, of course, not going to a Super Bowl.

“At the end of the day you’ve got to tip your hat off to them. They had a good game plan, and we weren’t ready,” Lions Pro Bowl right tackle Penei Sewell said. “Simple as that.”