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.
Tag: Horse racing news
Legendary Grand National horse Auroras Encore, who won world’s most famous race at 66-1, dies aged 23
Ridden by Ryan Mania and trained by Sue Smith, the horse rose to fame when it claimed victory in the sport's most famous race 13 years ago. The 66-1 outsider ran clear and won by nine lengths.
SLIDESHOW: Meet the 2026 Preakness Stakes Horses
The $2 million Preakness Stakes May 16 is shaping up to feature a competitive group of contenders for the 1 3/16-mile classic race, even without Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner Golden Tempo participating in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. The Preakness has been won by some of the
The Vase, a Vane, and a Blanket: Three Timeless Traditions Define the Preakness
Named for the first winner of Pimlico’s original race, the Preakness Stakes occupies a special place in the heart of the American turf. This 1 3/16-mile classic asks 3-year-olds to try a distance just a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby, a test of their stamina, conditioning, and heart two weeks after the first jewel of the Triple Crown.