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.

Betting the 2025 Breeders' Cup All-Turf Pick 4

Sat Nov 01 2025Vance Hanson

One of the more fascinating betting opportunities on Breeders' Cup Saturday is the 50-cent all-turf Pick 4.
Price plays for 2025 Breeders' Cup Doubles

Fri Oct 31 2025Vance Hanson

There will be rolling Double wagers throughout the two-day stand at Del Mar on Friday and Saturday, with minimums set at $1.
French Spot Plays: Saint-Cloud for Oct. 26

Sat Oct 25 2025Vance Hanson

The last significant day of the 2025 French flat season occurs Sunday at Saint-Cloud, when it hosts six Group stakes for Thoroughbreds.
2025 Breeders' Cup contenders worth considering at a price

Fri Oct 24 2025Vance Hanson

Compared to the chalk-heavy results of the 2023 Breeders' Cup, the 2024 edition at Del Mar was rather kind to longshot players.
Breeders' Cup: Finding Vulnerable Favorites in the 2025 Breeders' Cup

Fri Oct 24 2025Vance Hanson

Whether it's the Breeders' Cup or a run-of-the-mill card at Podunk Downs, an important part of betting strategy is determining whether the likely favorite is one to back or fade.
Run the Gantlet: Enigmatic champion of the turf

Mon Oct 20 2025Vance Hanson

The good ones sometimes come in waves. For a period in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the tide was extraordinarily high for Paul Mellon.
British Spot Plays: Ascot Oct. 18

Fri Oct 17 2025Vance Hanson

For the first time in several years, Saturday's British Champions Day at Ascot appears likely to avoid the plague of extremely soft conditions.
British Spot Plays: Newmarket for Oct. 11

Fri Oct 10 2025Vance Hanson

With British Champions Day around the corner, Newmarket wraps up its two-year-old festival on Saturday with a trio of Group stakes devoted to juveniles.
Delaware Pick 4 play for Sept. 27

Sat Sep 27 2025Vance Hanson

Delaware's card has an attractive Pick 4 sequence in the middle, which I'll be taking a shot at.
British Spot Plays: Newmarket for Sept. 27

Fri Sep 26 2025Vance Hanson

Newmarket's program on Saturday is two-year-old-centric, with a pair of historic Group 1 sprints highlighting the card.
British Spot Plays: Newmarket for Sept. 26

Thu Sep 25 2025Vance Hanson

We're in the homestretch of the British flat season, with five weekends remaining of Group action for 2025.
Irish Spot Plays for the Curragh Sept. 14

Sat Sep 13 2025Vance Hanson

The second day of the Irish Champions Festival, at the Curragh on Sunday, arguably features a far more competitive collection of Group stakes.
British Spot Plays: Doncaster for Sept. 11

Wed Sep 10 2025Vance Hanson

It's a big week of racing in Europe. The highlight will be the Irish Champions Festival weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh, while in England it's the week of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster.