I think that this time of the year is generally thought of as the “middle time” in racing. The summer and fall tracks are over for the season, and the best racing has yet to begin for winter.

I used to believe that, until I was playing in a handicapping contest this past weekend.

The players who used to rebuild bankrolls are following circuits they have never played in the past. The game is alive 24/7 – 365.

I watched some of the best players in the game maneuver themselves into position to qualify for the DRF/NTRA contest, to be held in Las Vegas in January. The prize monies will be well over a million dollars, and to make the cut, is well worth the price paid.

The irony was that this past weekend, at Beulah Park outside of Columbus, Ohio, some of the best of the best were doing battle. There were four past winners of the DRF / NTRA championship playing.

They all descended on little Beulah because it qualified the top 6 players. Now, some had qualified and played for money or had a “pal” they were trying to get to the big dance. Either way, this was one of the best tournaments I have ever seen.

On a day when winter racing at a track with purses averaging $3,000, had some of the best and brightest players in our sport, they were forced to play Beulah as mandatory races.

It just goes to show you that no matter what the competition level of the runners, the best players always come to the table.