Every Sunday Noel Michaels will provide free full-card picks for a one racecard in North America. A veteran handicapper and tournament-play pioneer, Michaels also writes a weekly “Weekend Winners” blog for America’s Best Racing with a focus on key stakes races at marquee tracks. This feature will be straight-forward: full-card picks for one Sunday slate of races of his choosing.
Racing Hall of Fame Class 2026 Celebrated, Remembered
With the relatively recent deaths of two of this year’s Racing Hall of Fame contemporary selections, trainers John Shirreffs and Christophe Clement, the 2026 induction ceremony Aug. 7 proved to be an emotional day in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Haydock Top Rated Horses Saturday 8th August
Haydock Top Rated Horses Saturday 8th August
13:50:00
BRIGHTON VIEW, 231.3
SAXOPHONIST, 218
MANDARIN SPIRIT, 162
RELENTLESS HERO, 159.3
LC TIFFEN, 149.5
14:25:00
SALLAAL, 361.5
NAHRAAN, 207.3
CONVERGENT, 204
DANGER BAY, 203.5
SEA SCOUT, 164.3
15:00:00
FALLEN ANGEL, 295.2
RUMBA NUMBA, 191.3
PACIFIC MISSION, 179.7
ALOBAYYAH, 172.7
AVIATRICE, 172.2
CALENDAR GIRL, 170.3
NOCHE CLASICA, 168.5
SILENCIOSA, 156.8
MOSTAR DREAMS, 154.2
BLINGY’S SISTER, 152.8
MAEVA, 119.3
15:34:00
CRIMSON SPIRIT, 234.2
PELLITORY, 233.3
CHRISTIAN DAVID, 202.8
NEW IMAGE, 196.3
YANIFER, 191.3
MOONSHINE, 175.8
16:09:00
NORCROSS BROW, 197.7
CRAFTY BLUE, 183.8
NAPOLIAN, 166
FLYTA, 158.7
BLACK ENDEAVOUR, 157.2
NORFOLK BLUE, 156.7
GALBA, 152.8
BERLINETTA, 147.2
COMPRADOR, 123.5
HORACE WALLACE, 118
16:40:00
WITCH HUNTER, 235.7
COSI BELLO, 205.8
ARCTIC THUNDER, 201.5
YORKSHIRE, 178.8
TILTED KILT, 175
LOST SIGNAL, 173.2
INSPIRED, 163.3
LEADMAN, 151.3
SKIPPER, 140.3
FINANCER, 138.8
TRIPLE DOUBLE A, 136.7
MOUNTAIN CAT, 132.5
KING CASPER, 127
STAR ANTHEM, 116.8
17:10:00
PHANTOM WATCH, 232.3
HOME HERO, 210.5
SANDY CRAIC, 186.3
SUGGY, 160.7
DIRECTOR’S CUT, 128.5
SUNSHINE AND ROSES, 121.8
GOLDEN MABEL, 118.5
Semifinalists Announced for 2025 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award
The Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award has selected six semifinalists in the competition that annually recognizes excellence in Thoroughbred sport literature. These titles, published in 2025, include three nonfiction historical studies from racing’s earliest years, a fictional pre-Civil War saga of racing and race in Mississippi, a deeply reported investigation of recent high-profile racing drug violations and the evolution of federal horse safety regulation, and a coffee table tome that profiles nearly 100 American racetracks, past and present.
