Author: Noel Michaels

By Noel Michaels The weather could play a significant role on Big ‘Cap Day at Santa Anita, with heavy rains expected Friday and a 40% chance of showers on the big day Saturday – an …

In the days leading up to the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Feb. 26, usracing.com is publishing profiles of the starters in the world’s richest horse …

By Noel Michaels A winter storm whipped through the country last week with snow, ice, and extreme cold impacting at least 18 states from New Mexico to Maine. The effects were felt for horse racing …

By Noel Michaels He was in 14th place when the final day started at the 23rd NTRA National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas. By the end of the day, David Harrison had soared into the …

By Noel Michaels The NTRA’s National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) opens Friday in Las Vegas for the 23rd time with the finals set through Sunday (Jan. 28-30). The NHC handicapping tournament is the culmination of a …

By Noel Michaels Many of the best horses, jockeys, and trainers are competing at the winter meet at Gulfstream Park, and a month-and-a-half into the meet we see that perennial leading trainer Todd Pletcher isn’t …

By Noel Michaels Irad Ortiz, Jr. is at the end of his 30-day suspension, brother Jose Ortiz is riding in New York this winter, so take it away Luis Saez in the race for top …

By Noel Michaels   Fans of racing at Oaklawn Park are accustomed to seeing Steve Asmussen and Ricardo Santana, Jr. atop the trainer and jockey standings year after year. This meet could play out a …

By Noel Michaels We’re two weeks into the long and stakes stacked Gulfstream Park Champions Meet, where the winter season that’s not so wintry in South Florida attracts most of the best trainers, jockeys, grass …

By Noel Michaels Some of the country’s top winter dirt racing has already begun in the Midwest with the opening of the Oaklawn Park meet last week. The meet added 10 racing days to boost …

By Noel Michaels Change is in the air on the thoroughbred racing circuit, with fall meets at the Big A, Churchill, Del Mar giving way to winter meets in at the Fair Grounds, Santa Anita …

By Noel Michaels Change is in the air on the thoroughbred racing circuit, with fall meets at the Big A, Churchill, Del Mar giving way to winter meets at the Fair Grounds, Santa Anita and …

By Noel Michaels The table is set for a high-quality fall season finale beginning with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Some top tracks will be serving up extra helpings of great racing, including Aqueduct, Churchill Downs …

By Noel Michaels A trio of racetracks are in the spotlight this weekend before Thanksgiving, so let’s focus in on Del Mar, Churchill Downs and Aqueduct. With top quality races at these three tracks, it …

By Noel Michaels     The Big A is back in action!  Aqueduct Racetrack is up and running with a 15-day fall meet, with some of the better racing around in the weeks following the Breeders’ Cup.  The short meet runs …