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.

She Feels Pretty wins the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine.

She Feels Pretty wins the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine. (Photo by Michael Burns Photography)

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.

Expert Picks

Run the Ganlet with Bob Woodhouse up.

Run the Ganlet with Bob Woodhouse up. (Photo courtest of the Keeneland Library / Credit to the Keeneland Library Raftery Turfotos Collection)

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.

History

Calandagan wins the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth at Ascot

Calandagan rallies past Kalpana in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth at Ascot (Photo by Hattie Austin/focusonracing.com)

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.

International

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.

International

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.

Wagering

Newmarket (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

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.

International

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.

International

The Curragh (Photo by Horsephotos.com/Frank Sorge)

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.

International

Doncaster Racecourse

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.

International

Deauville Paddock Scenic.

Deauville Paddock Scenic. (Photo courtesy of French Racing)

Spot Plays for Deauville Aug. 24

Sat Aug 23 2025Vance Hanson

This Sunday's program at Deauville is the last of the summer to feature Group 1 competition

International

York (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

British Spot Plays: York for Aug. 22

Thu Aug 21 2025Vance Hanson

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

York (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

British Spot Plays: York for Aug. 20

Tue Aug 19 2025Vance Hanson

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

Woodbine Racing (Michael Burns Photography)

How to play the King's and Queen's Pick 3 at Woodbine

Fri Aug 15 2025Vance Hanson

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