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.
Hanson: Spot Plays for Day 2 of Glorious Goodwood
The five-day Goodwood Festival, colloquially known as "Glorious Goodwood," runs from Tuesday through Saturday this week, with Group 1 features highlighting the first three days.
Racing
Hanson: Handicapping the Saratoga Late Pick 5 July 17
Saturday's Late Pick 5 sequence at Saratoga includes two graded stakes and an excellent first-level allowance sprint for three-year-olds.
Racing
First-Crop sires: Classic Empire quick out of the stall with five early winners
Coolmore is undoubtedly pleased so far with Classic Empire, who through July 11 had sired five winners throughout North America from his first crop.
Racing
Hanson: Spot plays for Newmarket July 9 card
For followers of English racing, the summertime festivals held at Newmarket, Goodwood, and York are generally delightful opportunities to scope out winners.
Racing
Hanson: Spot plays for Indiana Derby Day July 7
One of the several offers available to TwinSpires bettors for Wednesday's Indiana Derby card at Indiana Grand is the popular Bet Back promotion.
Racing
Hanson: Selections for Day 4 at Royal Ascot on June 18
Looking through Friday's card at Royal Ascot, we've kept in mind the strong likelihood of soft ground and attempted to handicap accordingly.
Racing
Hanson: Selections for Day 3 of Royal Ascot on June 17
The weather is forecast to change for the worse for Days 3 and 4 at Royal Ascot on Thursday and Friday, making handicapping ahead of time a challenge.
Racing
Hanson: My longshot play for the Duke of Cambridge Stakes on Day 2 at Royal Ascot
Firmer conditions could help a longshot produce a peak effort in Wednesday's Duke of Cambridge S. (G2) at Royal Ascot.
Racing
Hanson: Godolphin can stay hot with a longshot on Day 1 of Royal Ascot
The St James's Palace S. (G1) is arguably the most intriguing betting race among the four Group stakes on Tuesday's Royal Ascot opener. Also discover the favorites for the Queen Anne S. (G1) and King's Stand S. (G1) on day 1!
Racing
Hanson: Spot Plays for the June 13 card at Pimlico
Sunny skies and hopefully a drying-out turf course should make for a strong afternoon of racing Sunday at Pimlico, which hosts five stakes on its 10-race program.
Racing
Hanson: How I'm playing the Belmont Stakes Day card
Saturday's Belmont Stakes Day program is a dandy. We'll have a couple spot plays early in the card, followed by a Pick 4 bet that ends with the "Test of the Champion."
Racing
Hanson: How I will bet the Epsom Derby on June 5
He's been more about style than substance so far, but there's no question there is also some potentially good karma involved with Mohaafeth in Saturday's Epsom Derby (G1).
Racing
Hanson: Spot plays for the Epsom Oaks, New York Stakes on June 4
Our two spot plays on Friday will come on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Racing
Canterbury Park: Longshots to watch in May 27 stakes racing
Bettors focusing on Thursday evening's Canterbury Park card will note the presence of several stakes in the sequences of their 10% takeout Pick 6 and Pick 5 wagers.
Racing
Belmont Stakes trends: success hard to come by for Preakness starters
One of the more easily noticeable trends in recent Belmont history is how much of a negative lead-in race the Preakness (G1) has become.
Racing
Handicapping the Preakness Day Late Pick 5
Pimlico's 12% takeout on the Pick 5 is among the best that can be found anywhere in the country.
Racing
Handicapping the Cross Country Pick 5 for May 8
Multi-race bettors who like turf racing should find some appeal in Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5, the sequence of which uses a total four grass races at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park.
Racing
Kentucky Oaks Day spot plays at Churchill Downs
We'll concentrate our spot plays on the final three stakes on the Kentucky Oaks card, including the fascinating feature of the day.
Racing
Spot Plays for the Kentucky Derby card and 2000 Guineas
The Kentucky Derby (G1) is back where it belongs in 2021, on the first Saturday in May, and as expected the entire 14-race card at Churchill Downs is tremendous.
Racing
Pimlico: Handicapping the all-stakes Pick 5 for April 24
We're only a week out from the Kentucky Derby (G1), which means the Preakness (G1) is not far behind.
Racing
Defections mean shrinking number of Derby bubble horses
Less than two weeks out from the Kentucky Derby (G1), it appears nearly everyone who wants to run in the Churchill Downs classic may have the opportunity.
Racing
Queen Elizabeth's top race horses of all time
A prominent fixture on the turf since ascending the throne of the United Kingdom in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II has enjoyed tremendous success as both an owner and breeder in her seven decades as the sport's most recognizable patron. Indeed, a number of her most accomplished runners came along during the first decade or so of her long and inspiring reign.
Racing
Several "bubble" horses in good shape to make Kentucky Derby
The 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby prep series is complete, but the field for the May 1 classic at Churchill Downs remains somewhat fluid.
Racing
Handicapping the Cross Country Pick 5 for April 10
Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5 largely consists of stakes at Aqueduct, Keeneland, and Oaklawn Park, but kicks off with a first-level allowance for older horses at the Big A.
Racing
Four horses to follow in the 2021 Grand National Steeplechase
After the 2020 race was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the world-famous Grand National Steeplechase is back on the calendar Saturday.
Racing
Horses to Watch on TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby Day
A blockbuster 14-race card awaits horseplayers on Saturday when Fair Grounds hosts TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby Day.
Racing
What is Tennessee's legacy on horse racing and the Kentucky Derby?
Did you know that the Tennessee Derby was once a Kentucky Derby prep? Discover more on how TN shaped horse racing during the 19th century.
Racing
Hanson: Stakes spot plays for Oaklawn, Santa Anita on March 13
The Rebel (G2) and Beholder Mile (G1) are the feature events of this Saturday's stakes action, but for wagering purposes we'll be eyeing some of the other stakes.
Racing
Hanson: Stakes spot plays for Gulfstream, Fair Grounds Feb. 27
Highlighted by two significant Kentucky Derby (G1) preps and the return of the juvenile filly champion in the Davona Dale (G2), Saturday's stakes calendar is action-packed.
Racing
Spot Plays for Mardi Gras Day at Fair Grounds
Fair Grounds has put together a stellar weekday program in celebration of the local holiday of Mardi Gras.
Racing