handicapping

As we race into the fall championship season, there are 17 major Eclipse Award titles on the line (excluding the media categories). Whether it is Horse of the Year, leading trainer, or jockey--the final scripts are still unwritten. At the end of the calendar year, three finalists in each category are selected. The 200 or so voting members will then cast their ballots and a single winner in each category will receive the Eclipse Award. There is one significant exception to this process and that is the award for Horseplayer...

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and 'At the Races' host Steve Byk will once again partner for the 'Beat Byk NHC Challenge' this summer, offering one NHC tour member the opportunity to compete in the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) at the Horseshoe Las Vegas from Mar. 13-15, 2026. "For me, the return of 'Beat Byk' means summer and featured contest races at Saratoga, Del Mar, Ellis Park, Colonial Downs, Monmouth Park and by Labor Day, Kentucky Downs," said Byk. "'Beat Byk' has proven to be an excellent gateway for...

Tournament newcomer Madison Mattmiller bested a field of 77 entries to capture the 2025 Belmont Stakes Challenge, which was contested from Friday, June 6 through Saturday, June 7 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. Mattmiller, a 34-year-old bloodstock agent from Lexington, Ky. who works with Black Type Thoroughbreds, took home $57,750 from the prize pool awarded to the top-four finishers plus her $66,171.30 bankroll earned over the course of the tournament. In victory, Mattmiller also secured a seat at the 2025 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge from...

Steve Kornacki is more than the political junkie who, for years, has had a way of explaining things when it comes to elections that help make everything make sense. He does so by turning statistics into an easy-to-understand formula and displaying his findings on an interactive map that is known as the big board. But Kornacki sometimes needs a break from politics, and he has found one in horse racing. It's been his passion since his uncle started taking him to the harness races at Scarborough Downs in Maine. He...

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack provides analysis for Saturday's three GI Kentucky Derby preps--the GI Santa Anita Derby, GII Wood Memorial S. & G2 UAE Derby--and Tuesday's postponed GI Toyota Blue Grass S. GI Toyota Blue Grass S. - I'm banking on a big performance from Chancer McPatrick, who should move forward nicely off his runner-up effort while making his sophomore debut in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby. Despite just a field of seven entered, there figures to be plenty of pace (East Avenue sporting first-time blinkers, the rail-drawn...

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack provides analysis for Saturday's pair of GI Kentucky Derby preps--the GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby and GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks. GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby - After being offered in a pair of maiden claimers at two, #9 Instant Replay (Maximum Security) really elevated his game for Brad Cox in his 3-year-old debut, closing impressively (albeit into a hot pace) from last of six to win with authority (came home in :31) by five lengths in an optional claimer at Fair Grounds Feb. 17. He should...

"It's invisible," says Rob Murphy. "And sometimes it moves. Sometimes it's an oval; sometimes an oblong with no corners." On one level, then, there's nothing there at all. Yet those, for many years, were the parameters of his working life. As a relief pitcher for eight MLB teams between 1985 and 1995, all his focus was on that void behind the batter, and the elusive margins between strike and ball. Little wonder, then, if another great passion of Murphy's life is all about giving definition to something most of us...

The Horse Racing Women's Association (HRWA) has scheduled its first event of the season, which will take place beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET on Friday, Mar. 28 at Gulfstream Park, according to a press release from the group on Friday. The day includes opportunities for networking, learning, and sports some friendly competition for all attendees. Local guest speaker Sheri Holmes Stirling, Vice President of Administration at the track, will offer remarks. Participants will have the opportunity to enhance their handicapping skills through a seminar led by Samantha Perry and Claudia...

Who do you like? TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack makes his picks for Breeders' Cup Saturday at Del Mar. Race 4: GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint--#10 Scylla (10-1) Scylla ran a very good second going two turns in Del Mar's GI Clement L. Hirsch, then returned to Bill Mott's Saratoga base and cut back to this distance with another solid second-place finish in the GI Ballerina just three weeks later. She's been freshened since, is drawn nicely on the outside and is more than capable of running...

Who do you like? TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack makes his picks for Breeders' Cup Friday at Del Mar. Race 7: GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies--#4 La Cara (12-1) Pocahontas winner La Cara continues to improve with experience for trainer Mark Casse, and if her pedigree is any indicator (she's bred on the same Street Sense x Bernardini cross as Maxfield), another move forward could be coming in this two-turn debut. Her versatile running style adds to her appeal. Will also be using the maiden of two starts Snowyte,...

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack handicaps Saturday's GIII Iroquois Stakes and GIII Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs. GIII Pocahontas (Race 8) - Pretty Sure (#6) broke her maiden like a filly with a future, making a sustained four-wide rally on the far turn en route to a dominating come-from-behind debut score for Brendan Walsh going six furlongs at Ellis Park Aug. 25. She obviously lacks seasoning and faces a very tough group in this deep renewal of the Pocahontas--headed by deserving favorite Kimchi Cat (#13)--for just her second career...

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack handicaps Saturday's five Grade I races at Saratoga, headed by the 155th renewal of the Travers. GI Sword Dancer (Race 9) - Can't envision a scenario where the Sword Dancer doesn't go through either of the Godolphin/Charlie Appleby runners Measured Time (GB) (#2) or Silver Knott (GB) (#4), who both enter off impressive graded wins over the Saratoga lawn. Silver Knott is already proven at this 1 1/2-mile trip and has never been in better form, and we still may not have seen the...