Likely Exchange: The little mare with outsized influence
Who was Likely Exchange? In brief, a mare of hickory on the racetrack whose too short life as a producer nonetheless stretched in influence well into the 21st century.
History
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.
Why I voted nay on Thorpedo Anna for Horse of the Year
When the 2024 Eclipse Award ceremony is held in late January, the most likely name to be pulled from the envelope containing the voters' choice as Horse of the Year is Thorpedo Anna.
Features
Exploring Famous Racehorse Names and Their Meanings
Scan the entries on a typical racecard and you'll see a wide assortment of ordinary nouns and phrases make up a significant portion of the names Thoroughbreds carry with them throughout their lives.
Horse
Remembering the champions we lost in 2024
Through Dec. 19, si Eclipse Award-winning Thoroughbreds are known to have died in 2024. Here are short sketches of each one in chronological order according to the year their championships were attained.
Features
Thanksgiving Day 2024 Spot Plays at Fair Grounds
A nice 10-race card kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, with several interesting maiden and allowance races leading up to the featured Thanksgiving Classic.
Analysis
Claim to Fame: Ex-claimers that made racing's Hall of Fame
Claiming race alumni through the years have taken their talents to levels that warranted induction into the sport's Hall of Fame.
Features
Hong Kong: Selections for Sha Tin the night of Nov. 8
Racing at Sha Tin begins at 12 a.m. ET. Selections and analysis by Luke Middlebrook.
International
2024 Breeders' Cup: Rolling Pick 3 play for Saturday
Bettors will have a lot of rolling Pick 3 options on Saturday's Breeders' Cup card at Del Mar. Here is one I'll be focusing on.
Breeders Cup
2024 Breeders' Cup: Betting the rolling two-day Doubles
Bettors looking to get involved in multi-race wagers at this weekend's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar should be reminded that those generally offering the lowest takeout will be the Doubles.
Breeders Cup
2024 Breeders' Cup undercard includes vulnerable favorites
Before the nine Breeders' Cup races commence on Saturday, Del Mar offers a trio of events.
Breeders Cup
2024 Breeders' Cup: Betting the All-Turf Pick 4
A longshot dominated Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) helped boost the payoff of the All-Turf Pick 4 payoff at Santa Anita last year.
Breeders Cup
Breeders' Cup 2024: International raiders under the radar
The most serious contenders among the foreign contingent are generally known and will be backed accordingly. But which international raiders might deserve a closer look?
Breeders Cup
Finding vulnerable favorites in the 2024 Breeders' Cup
It's that time again to pick out a few horses to fade for next weekend's festivities at Del Mar, a decision made slightly more difficult following recent defections like National Treasure, who most certainly would have been included on this list.
Breeders Cup
2024 Breeders' Cup contenders worth considering at a price
Breeders' Cup Saturday in 2023 was unusual in the 40-year history of the event: a virtual beatdown for bettors looking for longer-priced winners.
Breeders Cup
Spot Plays for 2024 British Champions Day at Ascot
It's not quite the Breeders' Cup, but Saturday's British Champions Day program at Ascot has itself evolved into an annually intriguing handicapping and betting test.
International
2024 Breeders' Cup: Will Double payoffs rebound?
A year ago in this space, I wrote that a major emphasis of my wagering plan for the 2023 Breeders' Cup would be to focus more attention on the rolling and two-day Double wagers offered on the weekend.
Breeders Cup
Hanson: Spot Plays for Newmarket, Oct. 11
The English flat season, specifically the portion that includes Group stakes, will be winding down over the next several weekends.
International
Hanson: Newmarket Spot Plays Sept. 28
Juveniles are in the spotlight at Newmarket on Saturday, with the better sprinters of that age competing in a pair of Group 1s and those with a bit more stamina lining up in the one-mile Royal Lodge (G2).
International
Hanson: Spot Plays for Newmarket Sept. 27
Newmarket will host several important two-year-old stakes as well as the historic Cambridgeshire H. on Saturday. Friday's three Group stakes at "Headquarters" are of lesser quality, but I'll be taking a swing at a couple as the British flat season enters its final month.
International
Early Pick 3 Play for Woodbine Mile Day
The signature card of the 2024 Woodbine season on Saturday is highlighted by four Grade 1 turf stakes, most of which should have some Breeders' Cup implications. I'm going to begin my betting action on the day with a Pick 3 play that encompasses races 2 through 4, fading the morning line favorites in the first two legs.
Wagering
Hanson: Spot Plays for St Leger Festival Sept. 14
It's definitely a big weekend of racing in Europe. The two-day Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown and the Curragh predominates, and the Sunday card at Longchamp will feature several Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) trials.
International
Juvenile champion Game Winner a freshman sire to watch
Game Winner turned out to be one of those racehorses most owners dream about. Purchased for a relative bargain at the most notable yearling market in the world, Game Winner proved a champion on the racetrack and earned back his purchase price many times over.
Pedigree
2024 Travers Day undercard spot plays
Before the graded stakes action dominates the latter half of Saturday's Travers Day program at Saratoga, there will be the usual mix of maidens and high-class allowances to occupy bettors' attention.
Wagering
Hanson: Spot Plays for York Aug. 23
Day 3 of the Ebor Festival at York is highlighted by the Nunthorpe (G1), a five-furlong dash that could have implications on the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Del Mar this fall.
International
Hanson: Spot Plays for York Aug. 21
The four-day Ebor Festival at York, which runs Wednesday through Saturday, is the last of the multi-day summer festivals on the English racing calendar.
International
Hanson: Spot Plays for Goodwood July 31
Day 2 of the 2024 Goodwood Festival on Wednesday is highlighted by the Sussex (G1), but the unfortunate withdrawal of Rosallion has reduced its appeal a bit from both a sporting perspective and as a betting proposition.
International
Hanson: Spot Plays for Goodwood July 30
Goodwood will be the focus of British racing this week as the five-day "Glorious" meeting kicks off Tuesday.
International
Hanson: Newmarket Spot Plays for July 13
The third and final day of Newmarket's July Festival on Saturday features two Group events, one that yielded eventual Epsom Derby (G1) winner City of Troy a year ago and the other one of the most significant sprints on the European calendar.
International
Sprint great Groovy deserving of a Hall of Fame nod
Groovy, arguably the most significant Texas-bred since the days of King Ranch, was a powerhouse. When he was allowed to specialize at what he did best, that is.
History
Royal Ascot 2024: Selections for Friday
A pair of Group 1s highlight Day 4 of Royal Ascot on Friday, led by the Coronation (G1) for three-year-old fillies.
Royal Ascot