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
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.
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
2024 Royal Ascot: Selections for Thursday
Several strong favorites, including the decorated stayer Kyprios, will be prominent in Royal Ascot's Group race offerings on Thursday. But I'll take a stand against all of them in the hope of hitting one or more home runs.
Royal Ascot
The best longshot to bet in the 2024 Belmont Stakes
Although I find the race itself potentially formful on paper, especially if the track is wet, there is one longer-priced hope bettors might consider to hit the frame.
Belmont Stakes
Hanson: Spot play for the 2024 Derby at Epsom
Those of us with an historical bent might equate Saturday's 2024 edition of the Derby (G1) at Epsom with that of the 1966 Kentucky Derby. It's still the Derby, and the winner will be a good horse on the day if not a potential great, but it's simply not the race it might have been.
International
Hanson: Value Play for the 2024 Epsom Oaks
Derby weekend at historic Epsom Downs outside London kicks off Friday with two Group 1s on the schedule, the Oaks (G1) for three-year-old fillies and the Coronation Cup (G1) for older runners, both over 1 1/2 miles.
International
Hanson: Spot Plays for Sandown May 23
My journey through the English flat season continues Thursday when Sandown hosts a meeting held primarily during the evening hours local time, but early afternoon for those of us in the U.S.
International
Hanson: Spot Plays for Newbury, Pimlico May 18
It'll be a long and exciting day of racing around the world on Saturday, as my attention will be focused on the action at Newbury in England in the morning and the Preakness Day program at Pimlico the remainder of the day.
Preakness Stakes
Hanson: 2024 Black-Eyed Susan Day Spot Plays
Some of the more intriguing betting races on Friday's Black-Eyed Susan Day card at Pimlico will be found in the lower-level overnight events, rather than in the stakes.
Wagering
Ghostwriter the pick to topple Troy in 2000 Guineas
Before the Kentucky Derby Day card gets into full swing on Saturday, I'll continue my betting journey through the English flat season with a play in that country's first classic of the year, the 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket.
International
Hanson: 2024 Kentucky Derby Day spot plays
You can find my selections for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and several other stakes on Saturday's Churchill Downs card in the TwinSpires Kentucky Derby Betting Guide. For this piece, I'll mention my firmest opinion on that selection grid plus thoughts on a couple other stakes earlier in the afternoon.
Kentucky Derby
Hanson: 2024 Kentucky Oaks Day spot plays
Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs figures to be a spectacular appetizer ahead of the bigger Saturday program, though an unfavorable forecast will perhaps put a slight damper on things.
Wagering
Jockeys and weight in the Kentucky Derby
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
Hanson: Spot Plays for Newbury April 20
The start of my 2024 British flat season betting did not get off to the quickest of starts Wednesday at Newmarket, with both top selections going unplaced. Our original $1,000 bankroll, from which we are betting 5% of the balance to win on each top pick, is down to $902 heading into Saturday's action at Newbury.
International
Hanson: Spot Plays for Newmarket April 17
Horseplayers looking to turn an annual profit are typically advised to exploit their handicapping strengths and limit their relative weaknesses. There's a particular strength of mine that I hope to exploit again, starting this week.
International
Growth in Kentucky Derby Day betting virtually unabated in its modern history
Growth in Kentucky Derby Day is not up for debate. Betting virtually is firmly a part of modern history.
Kentucky Derby
Hanson: 2024 Louisiana Derby Day Spot Plays
The penultimate day of the 2023-24 winter meet at Fair Grounds on Saturday is also the biggest, highlighted by the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2). Before that comes 11 races, including four open stakes. Here are several horses of interest on the program.
Kentucky Derby
Oldest Horses in History That Lived to a Great Age
A sampling of notable Thoroughbreds over the past century that lived to the age of 33 or more
Features