Vance Hanson
Vance Hanson has been a contributing writer and editor for BRISnet.com, TwinSpires.com and KentuckyDerby.com since 2008. Prior to joining the Churchill Downs Inc. family, he served as a publicity assistant at Canterbury Park and as a handicapper/writer for Daily Racing Form.
How to bet the 2022 Ellis Park Derby
The finale on a stakes-laden Ellis Park card on Sunday is the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby, a one-mile event for three-year-olds.
Racing
First-Crop Sires: City of Light offspring beginning to shine
City of Light retired to stud at Lane's End Farm in early 2019 to great fanfare.
Racing
Hanson: Glorious Goodwood plays for July 28
After bypassing Wednesday's action at Goodwood, when two of the three Group races were won by the post-time favorite, it's back-in-the-saddle time for Day 3 of the five-day fixture on Thursday.
Racing
Hanson: Glorious Goodwood plays for July 26
The two earliest Group offerings on Day 1 offer a bit more hope for those looking to find a longer shot.
Racing
Spot Plays for Newmarket July Festival July 7
The first two days of the July Festival at Newmarket this week have come up high in quality but short on numbers as far as the Group stakes are concerned.
Racing
Spot Plays for Northern Stars Turf Festival at Canterbury June 22
The biggest day on the 2022 racing calendar at Canterbury Park is Wednesday, when five grass stakes carrying a minimum purse of $100,000 are scheduled.
Racing
2022 Royal Ascot: Selections for Friday
Day 4 of Royal Ascot 2022 is highlighted by three-year-olds: fillies over the Round Mile in the Coronation (G1), preceded by colt and filly sprinters in the six-furlong Commonwealth Cup (G1).
Racing
2022 Royal Ascot: Selections for Thursday
Day 3 of Royal Ascot on Thursday includes the meet centerpiece, the 2 1/2-mile Gold Cup (G1), which fan favorite Stradivarius will attempt to win for a fourth time.
Racing
How to handicap Royal Ascot stakes for juveniles
One of the distinguishing features of Royal Ascot is the six stakes devoted to two-year-olds during the annual five-day meeting.
Racing
Hanson: Handicapping the 2022 Epsom Derby
Although Desert Crown might be the most likely winner, there are at least a half-dozen other worthy contenders in the 1 1/2-mile classic.
Racing
Hanson: O'Brien can make music again in Epsom Oaks
Aidan O'Brien has a strong chance to win Friday's Epsom Oaks for a 10th time.
Racing
Hanson: 2022 Preakness Day Spot Plays
Traditionally one of the top four most-wagered programs of the year in the U.S., total handle on the Preakness card figures to be $100 million or thereabouts.
Preakness Stakes
How beaten Kentucky Derby favorites have fared as Preakness favorites
A post-World War II history of beaten Kentucky Derby favorites who were also the post-time favorite in the Preakness.
Racing
Hanson: Spot plays for Black-Eyed Susan Day May 20
The 14-race Preakness eve card at Pimlico on Friday has a variety of possibilities, including a wide-open renewal of the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) with a field of 13 three-year-old fillies.
Racing
Hanson: Wagering strategy for Kentucky Derby Day
The primary plays on the afternoon will be in the Kentucky Derby itself, the Pick 4 that ends in the Derby, and a win play earlier on the card.
Racing
Hanson: Kentucky Oaks Day spot plays
Spot plays for the Kentucky Oaks and other undercard races by Vance Hanson
Racing
The best longshot to bet in the 2022 Kentucky Derby
In a seemingly wide-open edition of the Kentucky Derby, Charge It might indeed be the best longshot to keep an eye on.
Racing
France may hold the cartes in 1000 Guineas
The betting market for Sunday's 1000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket is largely concentrating on two fillies who are lightly-raced with two starts apiece: Tenebrism and Tuesday.
Racing
Perfect Power the upset play in 2000 Guineas
The first classic of the British season, the 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket, tends to get lost in the shuffle as far as attracting an American audience.
Racing
Four horses to follow in the 2022 Grand National Steeplechase
Before taking in the wall-to-wall U.S. action on Saturday, my attention and wagering dollars will be making a brief detour to the outskirts of Liverpool for the Grand National Steeplechase.
Racing
Recent trends in the Santa Anita Derby
The last quarter-century of the Santa Anita Derby (G1), which will be renewed on Saturday with a purse of $750,000, has been impacted to a great degree by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
Racing
Recent trends in the Blue Grass Stakes
With a purse of $1 million the Blue Grass (G1) is the richest of the three Kentucky Derby (G1) preps that will be held this coming Saturday.
Racing
Recent trends in the Wood Memorial
Although it has not produced the winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) in nearly two decades, the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct generally adds to the Derby discussion.
Racing
Recent trends in the Arkansas Derby
A couple Arkansas Derby trends worth noting since 2010, plus a special look at filly participation.
Racing
Recent trends in the Jeff Ruby Steaks
The Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) is Turfway Park's signature event and one of the more important races in the U.S. still contested on a synthetic surface.
Racing
Recent trends in the Florida Derby
The history of the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) is replete with horses of the highest class, and the Gulfstream Park fixture has been a strong harbinger for success in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Recent trends in the Louisiana Derby
Here are three trends since 2010 worth noting about the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2).
Racing
Recent trends in the Sunland Park Derby
With just nine editions since 2010 to look at, here are recent trends in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) worth noting.
Racing
D. Wayne Lukas the best asset for fillies in Kentucky Derby preps
Last week's news that Secret Oath would face males in next month's Arkansas Derby (G1) puts us one step closer toward potentially seeing a filly compete in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Racing
Recent trends in the Tampa Bay Derby
Here are three trends in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) since 2010 worth noting.
Racing