Churchill Downs among winners in 2025 handle growth
Takeaways from the year in Thoroughbred wagering for 2025.
Features
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.
Concerns about Eclipse qualifications misplaced
One recurring storyline regarding the 2025 Eclipse Award vote was a seemingly increased concern about rewarding horses that raced only once in the U.S.
Features
Best of Hanson: 2025 Anthology
After a hiatus in 2024, an end-of-year compendium of my historically oriented writing is back for the year coming to a close next week.
History
Intriguing moments from the career of D. Wayne Lukas
Tidbits, trivia, and the occasional oddity related to Lukas' legendary Hall of Fame training career.
Features
Fair Grounds Spot Plays for Dec. 20
The four days when it hosts the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) preps are usually the highest-quality cards of Fair Grounds' winter meet.
Wagering
Thanksgiving Spot Plays for Fair Grounds Nov. 27
A favorite Thanksgiving tradition is tuning in to a typically competitive and attractive card assembled by Fair Grounds.
Wagering
Betting the 2025 Breeders' Cup All-Turf Pick 4
One of the more fascinating betting opportunities on Breeders' Cup Saturday is the 50-cent all-turf Pick 4.
Breeders Cup
Price plays for 2025 Breeders' Cup Doubles
There will be rolling Double wagers throughout the two-day stand at Del Mar on Friday and Saturday, with minimums set at $1.
Breeders Cup
French Spot Plays: Saint-Cloud for Oct. 26
The last significant day of the 2025 French flat season occurs Sunday at Saint-Cloud, when it hosts six Group stakes for Thoroughbreds.
International
2025 Breeders' Cup contenders worth considering at a price
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
Breeders' Cup: Finding Vulnerable Favorites in the 2025 Breeders' Cup
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.
Expert Picks
Run the Gantlet: Enigmatic champion of the turf
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.
History
British Spot Plays: Ascot Oct. 18
For the first time in several years, Saturday's British Champions Day at Ascot appears likely to avoid the plague of extremely soft conditions.
International
British Spot Plays: Newmarket for Oct. 11
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.
International
Delaware Pick 4 play for Sept. 27
Delaware's card has an attractive Pick 4 sequence in the middle, which I'll be taking a shot at.
Wagering
British Spot Plays: Newmarket for Sept. 27
Newmarket's program on Saturday is two-year-old-centric, with a pair of historic Group 1 sprints highlighting the card.
International
British Spot Plays: Newmarket for Sept. 26
We're in the homestretch of the British flat season, with five weekends remaining of Group action for 2025.
International
Irish Spot Plays for the Curragh Sept. 14
The second day of the Irish Champions Festival, at the Curragh on Sunday, arguably features a far more competitive collection of Group stakes.
International
British Spot Plays: Doncaster for Sept. 11
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.
International
Spot Plays for Deauville Aug. 24
This Sunday's program at Deauville is the last of the summer to feature Group 1 competition
International
British Spot Plays: York for Aug. 22
The Group offerings on Day 3 of the Ebor Festival at York range from stayers in the Lonsdale Cup (G2) to the swiftest five-furlong specialists in the featured Nunthorpe (G1).
International
British Spot Plays: York for Aug. 20
The four-day Ebor Festival at York, one of England's classiest multi-day fixtures outside Royal Ascot, kicks off Wednesday and runs through Saturday.
International
How to play the King's and Queen's Pick 3 at Woodbine
TwinSpires players can opt in to vie for a 25% profit boost (up to $50) on their winning wagers in the King's and Queen's Pick 3.
Wagering
Deauville: Spot Plays for Aug. 17
One of the most important mile races in all of Europe highlights the Sunday program at Deauville.
International
Spot Plays for 2025 Arlington Million Day at Colonial Downs
A stakes-laden, 12-race program at Colonial Downs on Saturday is highlighted by the Arlington Million (G1).
Wagering
Deauville: Spot Plays for Aug. 3
With French racing added to the TwinSpires.com menu last year, now is as good a time as any to dive into one of the most prestigious race meetings in the world.
International
British Spot Plays: Goodwood for July 31
Given the success of Zavateri in the July (G2) and Vintage (G2), it would be foolish to underestimate trainer Eve Johnson Houghton's two-year-olds.
International
Daryl's Joy: Antipodean warrior once honored at Saratoga
Although not the best nor most accomplished horse from Australia and New Zealand to ever grace the American turf, Daryl's Joy held his form in the U.S. far better than most Antipodean invaders.
History
British Spot Plays: Goodwood July 29
The "Glorious" Goodwood Festival begins its five-day run on Tuesday with a trio of Group stakes.
International
British Spot Plays: Newmarket July 12
The more important races of the third and final day of Newmarket's July Festival on Saturday are, unusually for a British card, nearer the tail end of the program.
International