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.
Veteran jockey Mario Pino hits 7000 wins
Pino would go on to win an impressive 275 races during the 1979 season. He rode his most winners in a season (297) in 2001, and it wasn’t until 2010 that his season win total dipped below 100.
Racing
Hanson: British Champions Day spot plays at Ascot
Saturday's British Champions Day at Ascot undoubtedly lives up to its moniker, with several outstanding match-ups and/or betting opportunities across the five group stakes.
Racing
Breeders' Cup: Trends worth remembering from Del Mar's first BC
As Del Mar plays host to the Breeders' Cup for a second time next month, we scout out the more notable trends from its first in 2017.
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Hanson: Handicapping the Keeneland Turf Pick 3 for Oct. 8
New to the wagering menu at the Keeneland fall meet, which begins Friday, is the $3 Keeneland Turf Pick 3.
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Classy Edition a rising star for freshman sire Classic Empire
Since the last installment in our series showcasing the first crop by Classic Empire, the champion has been represented by his first two stakes winners.
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Hanson: Spot Plays for the Oct. 3 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe card
Wagering on the terrific Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) program on Sunday will be available at TwinSpires.com.
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Spot Plays for the Turf Sprint, Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs
The biggest day of the 2021 meet at Kentucky Downs is Saturday, and both $1 million features are "Win & You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge preps. Here are the preferred choices in both.
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The 10 best horses beaten by Secretariat
Secretariat's achievements are enhanced because he defeated these 10 star horses.
Racing
Kentucky Downs Spot Plays for Sept. 6
Not only will two-year-olds be in focus at Saratoga and Del Mar on Labor Day, but Kentucky Downs will also have a pair of sprint stakes for juveniles on its 11-race program.
Racing
Letruska among 5 of the best horses to win in Mexico
Letruska is among the five best horses ever to win a stakes in Mexico. What makes Letruska's path toward stardom so interesting, and unique?
Racing
Colonial Downs stakes spot plays for Aug. 31
A bonanza of open grass stakes highlight Tuesday's card at Colonial Downs, highlighted by the return of the Virginia Derby (G3).
Racing
Hanson: Rediscovering historic Triple Crown TV coverage
Television footage of the Triple Crown from the 1960s and early 1970s is now publicly available, and its most interesting moments are well worth watching.
Racing
Colonial Downs Spot Plays for Aug. 23
The leading open, main-track stakes of the 2021 Colonial Downs meet, all of which will be run around one turn over the unique 1 1/4-mile layout, are on Monday's slate of action.
Racing
Hanson: Three-year-olds bear watching in 2021 Juddmonte International
Perhaps the trend bodes well for one of the four sophomores in Wednesday's Juddmonte International (G1)
Racing
Handicapping the Cross Country Pick 5 on Aug. 14
The Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday takes in all five graded stakes scheduled for the day, the two at Saratoga and the three Grade 1 turf events at Arlington.
Racing
First-crop Sires: Surface no issue for recent Classic Empire winners
Since our first installment last month highlighting the early successes of offspring by freshman sire Classic Empire, the 2016 juvenile champion has been represented by two additional winners.
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Hanson: Stakes Spot Plays for Aug. 7
A tremendous day of racing on both sides of the country awaits fans on Saturday, with the higher-level action taking place at Saratoga.
Racing
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.
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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.
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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."
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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).
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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