U.S. Thoroughbred racing is the global leader when it comes to producing elite dirt sprinters, and that makes sense because sprint races on dirt have long been the meat and potatoes of the sport in this country. Indeed, the only winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint who was bred or based outside of North America was Sheikh Albadou in 1991. He was bred in Great Britain and raced exclusively in Europe before the 1991 Breeders’ Cup, which he prepped for in France with a second-place finish in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp.
Cheltenham Top Rated Horses Friday 23rd October
Cheltenham Top Rated Horses Friday 23rd October
13:15:00
CROOKED PATH, 228.70
NORMAN FLETCHER, 220.80
SUNNY SOUTH WEST, 219.20
MORNING MAYHEM, 214.20
LA PINSONNIERE, 211.80
EAST INDIA EXPRESS, 206.30
JOHN BARBOUR, 192.00
AL GASPARO, 188.50
HANDLETHEKETTLE, 186.00
FRONTIER PRINCE, 183.50
CLOONAINRA, 183.20
SNATCH A GLANCE, 175.70
CAN HAPPEN, 165.30
13:50:00
BOWENSONFIRE, 364.80
ICE JET, 285.20
PASSING DIAMOND, 205.20
GLEN TO GLEN, 204.20
JARRIVE DE MEE, 190.50
14:25:00
WILD GOOSE, 280.50
LORIKO, 219.70
KAPITEIN KOOL, 209.00
KING ULANDA, 194.50
THE HARDEST GEEZER, 194.00
MOJITO DES MOTTES, 193.70
WONDERING WHY, 184.50
EMERALD TIME, 179.50
GOWER PRINCE, 173.30
FIVEONEFIVE, 168.50
THANKYOUANDPLEASE, 165.20
CONTINUANCE, 164.50
FILS DE ROI, 74.50
15:00:00
ETERNAL ANGEL, 237.00
BELLS GROVE, 212.50
COOLTOBECARELESS, 209.50
SIXPACK, 201.00
KINGOFTHEFRONTIER, 184.30
SPANISH DARLING, 184.20
PLANTERS PUNCH, 178.50
GOVERNORS ROCK, 164.00
SCOTT’S LEGACY, 163.00
MATIWO, 160.70
15:35:00
CALICO, 280.80
JPR ONE, 263.20
SKY LORD, 251.50
SANS BRUIT, 245.70
TRAPRAIN LAW, 244.50
DUKE OF LUCKLEY, 244.50
SOUL ICON, 230.20
PALACIO, 217.50
IN THE AIR, 197.00
16:10:00
MR HOLLYWOOD, 361.80
DATSTHEHOLYALLOFIT, 180.30
COSMOS D’AINAY, 166.50
KINGSTONIAN, 158.50
MISTER COKO, 136.30
OTIE’S FRIEND, 59.50
SAINT INVICTUS, 46.20
16:45:00
SNIPE, 284.50
UNANSWERED PRAYERS, 234.80
LITTLE LEDGEND, 228.50
YOUDECIDE, 193.00
JUPITER DES BORDES, 190.50
BETTER OFF ALONE, 177.30
CEANNDANA, 173.80
FAIRLAWN SKIPPER, 164.80
BRANDT, 158.20
MY GIFT TO YOU, 155.00
BEGGARS ROCK, 148.20
Noel’s Weekend Winners: Spotlight on Belmont’s Empire Showcase Day
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.
The Language of Horse Racing: Key Terms to Know for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup
We’ve all been there before … walking into an unfamiliar setting and not knowing exactly what to say or what others are talking about. It can be flat-out overwhelming. A day at the racetrack can feel like the first day at a new job with dozens and dozens of horse racing terms and idioms that are almost a separate language, not to mention the racing program or Daily Racing Form at your fingertips that looks like it was designed by an accounting professor.
