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.
Chop Chop among three early stakes winners for freshman sire City of Light
Since our first installment highlighting the first crop by City of Light, the freshman sire has been represented by an additional six winners, three of whom have won stakes.
Features
Hanson: A case for Flightline's early retirement
While some racing fans are disappointed Flightline won't reappear on the racetrack, the "he has nothing more to prove" argument might be a sound one.
Breeders Cup
Breeders' Cup: How to play the All-Turf Pick 3 on Friday
The All-Turf Pick 3 starts with the Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) and will include the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and Juvenile Turf (G1).
Breeders Cup
2022 Breeders' Cup contenders worth considering at a price
As was the case last year, the longshots we find the most intriguing a week out from the Breeders' Cup are largely concentrated on the weekend's grass races.
Breeders Cup
Finding vulnerable favorites in the 2022 Breeders' Cup
A primary key to handicapping the Breeders' Cup successfully, or any race card for that matter, is finding and eliminating vulnerable favorites.
Racing
Magnificent Seven: Multi-generation winners of the same Breeders' Cup race
One of the more intriguing situations in racing occurs when a horse replicates family success by winning the same stakes that their sire or dam did during their racing days.
Breeders Cup
Hanson: Spot Plays for British Champions Day at Ascot Oct. 15
There are several competitive betting affairs with larger fields earlier in the Ascot card, and a couple horses have caught my eye as potential value plays.
Racing
The up and down history of the American Grand National
The American Grand National, which carries a purse of $250,000 and is contested over 2 5/8 miles, is the richest and most prestigious jumping event in the U.S.
Racing
Lukewarm Breeders' Cup favorites typically ones to avoid
Knowing what kind of horses are best avoided is often just as important as who to latch onto. Breeders' Cup favorites the betting public is very cool towards is one such group.
Racing
Hanson: Betting the 2022 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
With course conditions expected to be very soft and a with a full field of 20 entered, Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) looks a fascinating betting affair.
Racing
Recent trends in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
With the 2022 edition of the Arc at Longchamp coming up this Sunday, Oct. 2, here's a look at recent trends in the 1 1/2-mile fixture.
Trends
What does shaky history of odds-on BC Classic favorites mean for Flightline?
The main question is not so much who specifically will win the Breeders' Cup Classic, but whether Flightline will be a single or not.
Breeders Cup
Spot Plays for Doncaster Sept. 8
Fillies are in the spotlight Thursday on Day 2 of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster.
Racing
Famous Racehorse Names and Their Meanings
Scan the entries on a typical racecard and you'll see a wide assortment of ordinary nouns and phrases make up a significant portion of the names Thoroughbreds carry with them throughout their lives.
Features
Prominent Thoroughbreds that lived to a great age
A sampling of notable Thoroughbreds over the past century that lived to the age of 33 or more
Features
Arbitrary BAQ track code a disservice to bettors
Rather than identify all races run at Aqueduct from Sept. 15 through Oct. 30 as being run at "Aqu," past performance data will now refer to the track as "BAQ."
Racing
How to bet the 2022 Del Mar Oaks
Barring any late withdrawals, Saturday's $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1) will have a capacity field of 14 three-year-old fillies.
Racing
Hanson: Spot Plays for Day 1 of Ebor Festival at York Aug. 17
The final major English racing fixture of the summer takes place this week at York, which presents its four-day Ebor Festival from Wednesday through Saturday.
International
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