Kellie Reilly, a staff writer in the Editorial Department at Brisnet.com, is a regular contributor to the TwinSpires.com blog and KentuckyDerby.com. Her articles have also been featured on NBCSports.com and in the official Kentucky Derby program. Kellie's academic background is in history, culminating in an M.A. from her hometown University of New Orleans. A racing fan since childhood, Kellie is especially interested in pedigrees and the international racing scene. Follow Kellie on Twitter: @GallantFox1930

Vance Hanson is a contributing writer and editor for BRISnet.com, TwinSpires.com and KentuckyDerby.com with over 20 years of Thoroughbred racing experience. Prior to joining the Churchill Downs Inc. family, he served as a publicity assistant at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, where he began following the sport in the late 1980s, and as a handicapper/writer for Daily Racing Form in Lexington, Kentucky. 

The senior producer & racing analyst for Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds and Ellis Park, Joe Kristufek began his career in his native Chicago, climbing the ladder at the local racing venues. The 1989 rivalry between Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence and his nemesis Easy Goer cemented Joe's love for horse racing. A self-proclaimed "horse racing ambassador", Joe's industry experience spans from Dubai to Hong Kong to nearly 40 tracks across North America. An award winning TV producer and fan development specialist and the founding member of Brilliant Racing, he relishes the challenge of scouting Kentucky Derby and Oaks hopefuls months in advance. From the infield to the suites and now the on-air host chair, Joe has attended 15 Kentucky Derbies in person.  Follow Joe on Twitter: @JoeyDaKRacing

James Scully writes/handicaps for Brisnet.com, TwinSpires.com and KentuckyDerby.com. He started working for Brisnet.com in 1998. A graduate of Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, James has been a lifelong University of Kentucky and Cincinnati Bengals/Reds fan. He remembers watching Seattle Slew on TV and attended his first Kentucky Derby in 1981 (Pleasant Colony). Follow James on Twitter: @James_Scully111

Scott Shapiro is the Senior Racing Analyst for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. He fell in love with thoroughbred racing when his father took him to Garden State Park in 1985 to see Kentucky Derby winner Spend A Buck race in the Jersey Derby instead of the Preakness Stakes. Scott graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1996 and remains a die-hard Badger football and basketball fan today. His favorite horses are A.P. Indy, Fly So Free, Victory Gallop, and Ghostzapper.  

Follow Scott on Twitter:@ScottShap34

Kaitlin Free is currently a reporter and analyst for Churchill Downs. She began her relationship with Churchill Downs in 2021 and has been doing work for Turfway Park since 2021. She will report full time at Churchill Downs in early 2023 and will be at their tracks year round. Kaitlin grew up around horses with horse racing being a lifelong a passion of hers. She claims that she was one of those "horse girls" in school as a kid. This led her to further study Equine Science in college, being apart of Hocking College's Equine program and equestrian team. The Kentucky racing circuit is by far her favorite domestic racing circuits, but she also very much enjoys racing across the globe specifically in Europe, France, and the UAE. Kaitlin’s goal in this industry is to report and find information in order to bring that knowledge and analysis to the public.

Follow Kaitlin on Twitter: @kaitlinfree