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Grand Canyon wins the Oak Tree's Norfolk Stakes.(Photo by Four Footed Fotos)

D. Wayne Lukas: One horse that could have been his best

Mon Jun 30 2025Vance Hanson

D. Wayne Lukas consistently reached new levels, sometimes many times over, but a few of us will always remember Grand Canyon as the player who might have defined the coach's entire career.

Oaklawn Park

Royal Ascot scenic from day two of racing. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Royal Ascot 2025: Selections for Friday

Thu Jun 19 2025Vance Hanson

Day 4 at Royal Ascot is highlighted by the Coronation (G1) and Commonwealth Cup (G1), both of which appear top-heavy in terms of depth.

Royal Ascot

2025 Royal Ascot Scenic from day one of racing. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Royal Ascot 2025: Selections for Thursday

Wed Jun 18 2025Vance Hanson

Day 3 of Royal Ascot has as its traditional centerpiece the Gold Cup (G1) over 2 1/2 miles, and it's also the card where I'll resume my bankroll plays for the 2025 British flat season.

Royal Ascot

Epsom Downs scene in England (Photo by Horsephotos.com/Frank Sorge)

2025 Epsom Derby: Looking past Coolmore and Godolphin

Fri Jun 06 2025Vance Hanson

The Derby (G1) on Saturday is the sole British race I'll be focused on this weekend, and the last before my annual attack on Royal Ascot later this month.

International

Randomized carried her speed 1 1/4 miles in the Alabama (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Saratoga: Spot Plays for June 6, 2025

Fri Jun 06 2025Vance Hanson

Weather and track conditions for Friday's blockbuster card at Saratoga remain uncertain at this writing, but the hope is that the following horses of interest will be suited by a dry or wet main track.

Wagering

Dornoch wins the Belmont S. (G1) during Belmont at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography)

Saratoga: Spot Plays for June 5, 2025

Wed Jun 04 2025Vance Hanson

After a Wednesday program devoted primarily to New York-breds, Thursday's card at Saratoga is nearly free of restricted races save one maiden for fillies and mares on the turf.

Wagering

Nakatomi wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)

Saratoga: Spot Plays for 2025 Belmont Stakes Day

Wed Jun 04 2025Vance Hanson

Saturday's Belmont Stakes Day program at Saratoga is tremendous in many respects, but I'll be taking a swing against some of the shorter-priced favorites.

Belmont Stakes

Epsom Downs scene in England (Photo by Horsephotos.com/Frank Sorge)

Epsom Derby, Belmont Stakes Double a bet worth having

Wed Jun 04 2025Vance Hanson

The New York Racing Association announced this week that on June 7, it would offer a special transatlantic Double wager linking two of the world’s oldest and most prestigious classics: the Derby (G1) at Epsom and the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga.

Wagering

Sandown Racecourse (Vance Hanson photo)

British Spot Plays: Sandown selections May 29

Wed May 28 2025Vance Hanson

Thursday's twilight program at Sandown features a pair of Group 3s and two listed stakes.

International

Keep It Easy wins the Ed Brown at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Spot Plays for 2025 Preakness Day undercard

Fri May 16 2025Vance Hanson

If the weather and field sizes hold, it would be no surprise to see around $100 million handled at Pimlico on Saturday. Here are a trio of runners on the undercard I'll be taking a look at.

Preakness Stakes

Encino winning the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park (Photo by Coady Photography)

Spot Plays for Black-Eyed Susan Day May 16

Wed May 14 2025Vance Hanson

From this view, Friday's Black-Eyed Susan Day undercard at Pimlico offers more intriguing options than Saturday's Preakness Day program.

Wagering

Gosger wins the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

The best longshot to bet in the 2025 Preakness Stakes

Wed May 14 2025Vance Hanson

Who among Saturday's group has a chance of being in the same position, hoping to topple heavy favorite Journalism?

Preakness Stakes

Sovereignty winning the Kentucky Derby (Photo by Coady Media)

2025 Kentucky Derby reflection: What were the odds?

Tue May 06 2025Vance Hanson

The widespread popularity of the Kentucky Derby, in conjunction with some offbeat results in recent years, has resulted in a highly inefficient betting market, at least in the win pool. This past Saturday was yet another example.

Kentucky Derby

Journalism at Churchill Downs (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Hanson: Betting the Kentucky Derby and 2000 Guineas

Fri May 02 2025Vance Hanson

The horse that beat Baeza in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), morning line favorite #8 Journalism (3-1), remains our top selection.

Kentucky Derby

Grande trains for the Kentucky Derby (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Hanson: The best longshot to bet in the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Fri May 02 2025Vance Hanson

Determining the best longshot to play in the Kentucky Derby (G1) is very much like choosing your top selection.

Expert Picks

Mullikin (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

2025 Kentucky Derby Day spot plays

Fri May 02 2025Vance Hanson

In addition to the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Saturday program at Churchill Downs offers a plethora of intriguing graded stakes, most of which have no short-priced stickouts.

Kentucky Derby

Churchill Downs (Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs)

2025 Kentucky Oaks Day spot plays

Thu May 01 2025Vance Hanson

With 27 races carded for Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs, including, of course, the Kentucky Derby (G1), there is no shortage of options for bettors to sink their teeth into on the most popular weekend in American racing.

Wagering

Rich Strike wins the 2022 Kentucky Derby (Photo by Coady Media/Churchill Downs)

Jockeys and weight in the Kentucky Derby

Thu May 01 2025Vance Hanson

Being the most identifiable human participants on average in Thoroughbred racing, jockeys will be a major focus in this week’s 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby

Giacomo wins the 2005 Kentucky Derby (Photo courtesy of the Kentucky Derby Museum/Churchill Downs)

Five of the biggest shocks in Kentucky Derby history

Thu May 01 2025Vance Hanson

Unlike games of chance that you might encounter in a casino, the result of a Thoroughbred horse race is far from a random outcome event. That’s not to say that there aren’t inexplicable surprises from time to time. In its century and a half of longevity, the Kentucky Derby has seen its share.

Kentucky Derby

Omaha Beach preps for the 2019 Kentucky Derby (Photo by Coady Photography/Churchill Downs)

Kentucky Derby scratches that changed history

Thu May 01 2025Vance Hanson

While a comprehensive list of Kentucky Derby scratches since 1875 is not possible, these four withdrawals perhaps were the most significant.

Triple Crown

Donerail (Photo courtesy of the Kentucky Derby Museum/Churchill Downs)

Who was the biggest underdog ever to win the Kentucky Derby?

Thu May 01 2025Vance Hanson

Most recent underdogs weren’t facing an overwhelming favorite or toppling a budding superstar or two. In fact, many underdog winners can be judged less on how much they paid, but by who they beat.

Kentucky Derby

Steve Asmussen (Coady Photography)

Best trainers never to have won the Kentucky Derby

Thu May 01 2025Vance Hanson

The Kentucky Derby is America's signature race, but victory in it unfortunately eluded (or has) some of the finest and most accomplished horsemen in history.

Features

Phone Handicapping (Photo by Coady Photography/Churchill Downs)

Growth in Kentucky Derby Day betting virtually unabated in its modern history

Fri Apr 25 2025Vance Hanson

Growth in Kentucky Derby Day is not up for debate. Betting virtually is firmly a part of modern history.

Kentucky Derby

Sandown Racecourse (Vance Hanson photo)

British Spot Plays: Sandown selections April 25

Thu Apr 24 2025Vance Hanson

The two fixtures for older horses at Sandown on Friday appear wide open.

International

Newmarket (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

British Spot Plays: Craven meeting at Newmarket April 15

Mon Apr 14 2025Vance Hanson

Newmarket's three-day Craven meeting this week features more trials for the 2000 Guineas (G1) and 1000 Guineas (G1).

International

British Spot Plays: Guineas trials at Newbury April 12

Fri Apr 11 2025Vance Hanson

The 2025 British flat season shifts into a stronger gear beginning Saturday, when Newbury hosts the John Porter (G3) for older horses and a pair of trials for the upcoming 2000 Guineas (G1) and 1000 Guineas (G1).

International

Michael Iavarone (Coady Photo/Keeneland)

Michael Iavarone explains his winning Pick-5 ticket structure

Tue Apr 01 2025Vance Hanson

Michael Iavarone had the sole winning ticket of Tampa Bay Downs’ late Pick 5 worth $435,029.40 on Feb. 8, 2020 when placing his bet at TwinSpires.com.

Triple Crown

Sitka wins at Ellis Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Betting the Rebel Stakes Day early Pick 5 at Oaklawn Park

Sat Feb 22 2025Vance Hanson

The 24-hour delay to Oaklawn Park's Rebel Stakes Day program spices up the Sunday racing offerings considerably, and the 12-race program is a blockbuster of stakes, allowances, and maidens. I'll get my investment on the card started early with a Pick 5 play on the first five races.

Wagering

Raqiya wires the Goldikova in her U.S. debut

Raqiya wires the Goldikova at Del Mar in her U.S. debut (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Hanson: Betting the Pegasus World Cup Late Pick 5

Fri Jan 24 2025Vance Hanson

Outside of the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup, the Pegasus World Cup Day program at Gulfstream Park is one of America's biggest betting race days. For example, all-sources handle on the 2024 program was more than $47 million.

Pegasus World Cup

Likely Exchange, M. Summers up, Sound of Summer (2nd on the rail), Claiborne Purse at Keeneland in October 12, 1978. (Photo courtesty on Keeneland Library Collection)

Likely Exchange: The little mare with outsized influence

Thu Jan 09 2025Vance Hanson

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