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.
Betting a Flashy Maiden Winner in the Hopeful Stakes
Eight talented 2-year-old Thoroughbreds will face off in Sunday’s $300,000 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, a historic Grade 1 race with an impressive roster of recent winners.
Dry summer puts horse racing season under threat
Dry weather threatens race meetings as trainers and tracks across the West wait for rain.
From Farm Kid to Hall of Famer: The Eddie Maple Story
Here’s a question to ponder: Suppose that you’re an up-and-coming young jockey, not yet 25 years old and less than a decade into your career. Out of the blue, you’re called upon to ride arguably the greatest horse of all time in the final start of his illustrious career. Could you handle the pressure? It sounds like something out of a movie, but for jockey Edward “Eddie” Maple, this opportunity was real. And for the record, Maple did handle the pressure, which was arguably the turning point in what would become a legendary Hall of Fame riding career.
