Welcome to Noel Michaels’ Weekend Winners, the place to go for weekend best bets and spot plays from veteran handicapper and tournament-play pioneer Noel Michaels. Check back every week for a couple of highlighted selections designed to help you cash a few bets and make some money.
Author: News
Where to Watch/Listen: Horse Racing Coverage Dec. 11-14
The upcoming weekend in horse racing is highlighted by an influential prep race for the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve in California and the opening of one of horse racing’s most popular tracks, Oaklawn Park.
Rookie Rankings for Dec. 9: Leading 2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders
In recent years, the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct has produced Kentucky Derby top-three finishers Sierra Leone (second in 2024) and Zandon (third in 2022), a pair of Grade 1 winners trained by Chad Brown.
