Each week, members of the national media vote on the nation's top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll. Week 1 of the 2026 NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll, covers races through Jan. 25. The poll is topped by undefeated 2-year-old champion Ted Noffey. At this stage of the season, many of the top contenders have yet to make their 3-year-old debuts.
Where to Watch/Listen: Horse Racing Coverage Jan. 29-Feb. 1
The schedule for the upcoming weekend in horse racing across North America is in flux as several racetracks cancel cards and postpone stakes races due to the effects of a winter storm that blanketed nearly the entire eastern half of the United States.
D’code the Top Pick in Loaded 2026 Southwest Stakes
A huge field of 14 horses will battle for a $1 million purse in Friday’s Southwest Stakes racing 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park.
2026 Southwest Stakes at a Glance
The Southwest Stakes may not have produced a Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner in 2025 as it did in 2024 with Mystik Dan, but with a seven-figure purse it’s no surprise the 1 1/16-mile stakes, which has been rescueduled to Friday, Feb. 6, attracted a full field of 14 starters.
