| Horsename: | Christopher Vance |
| Breed: | Standardbred |
| Sire: | Vance Hanover (US) |
| Grandsire: | Albatross (US) |
| Dam: | Disco Girl (NZ) |
| Damsire: | Berry Hanover (US) |
| Sex: | Gelding |
| Foaled: | 1986-11-05 |
| Breeder: | R Reid, Estate L F Reid (Waiuku) |
| Owner: | R R Reid & J C Reid & Lorna Reid Syndicate |
| Trainer: | Roy & Barry Purdon, Clevedon |
| Record: | 121 starts: 38 wins 41 placings |
| Earnings: | NZ$1,747,167 |
| Awards: | New Zealand Horse of the Year |
Christopher Vance (5 November 1986 – 13 December 2016) was a Group One-winning New Zealand Standardbred racehorse, trained by Roy and Barry Purdon and generally driven by Barry Purdon or Tony Herlihy.
He was the 1991–92 New Zealand Horse of the Year after winning both the major New Zealand races, the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup, as well as the Miracle Mile Pace at Harold Park in Australia. Christopher Vance was not as dominant in the following seasons but remained competitive against top class opposition such as Blossom Lady, Master Musician, Jack Morris and Chokin.
Notable performances by Christopher Vance include:
| Placing | Year | Race | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1990 | Great Northern Derby[1] | Christopher Vance | Mark Hanover | Amos Lee. | |
| 2nd | 1990 | The Bru Czar | Christopher Vance | Tight Connection | ||
| 1st | 1991 | Christopher Vance | Mark Hanover | Franco Ice | ||
| 1st | 1991 | Christopher Vance | Franco Ice | Mark Hanover | ||
| 1st | Nov 1991 | Christopher Vance | Clancy | Surmo Way | ||
| 1st | Nov 1991 | Christopher Vance | Defoe | Westburn Grant | ||
| 1st | Dec 1991 | Christopher Vance | Starship | The Bru Czar | ||
| 3rd | Nov 1992 | New Zealand Trotting Cup, with a 15-metre handicap and breaking at the beginning of the race.[2] | Giovanetto | Christopher Vance | ||
| 3rd | Nov 1992 | Sogo | Christopher Vance | |||
| 2nd | Nov 1992 | Franco Tiger | Christopher Vance | Jack Morris | ||
| 3rd | Dec 1992 | M. H. Treuer Memorial | Jack Morris | Band Magic | Christopher Vance | |
| 2nd | Dec 1992 | Master Musician | Christopher Vance | The Bru Czar | ||
| 2nd | Apr 1993 | Inter Dominion Pacing Championship heat | Christopher Vance | Westburn Grant | ||
| 1st | Apr 1993 | Inter Dominion Pacing Championship heat, in 1:54.5 for the mile | Christopher Vance | Master Musician | Warrior Khan | |
| 3rd | Apr 1993 | Inter Dominion Pacing Championship heat | Jack Morris | Rustic Lad | Christopher Vance | |
| 4th | May 1993 | Jack Morris | Warrior Khan | Blossom Lady | ||
| 3rd | Dec 1993 | Franco Ice | Christopher Vance | |||
| 2nd | Feb 1994 | Blossom Lady | Christopher Vance | The Unicorn | ||
| 1st | March 1994 | Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Consolation final | Christopher Vance | Our New Life | Tact Rashad | |
| 3rd | Dec 1994 | Franco Ice | Christopher Vance |
From April to August 1995 Christopher Vance was driven in a number of Australian races by Brian and Darren Hancock, only managing to win two lesser events. He was then brought back to New Zealand to race but failed to manage a top three placing in his final campaign. His last race was a sixth placing in the Courier Post Flying Mile (Group 2) at Cambridge behind Victor Supreme on 16 February 1996.
During his retirement years, Christopher Vance lived at Cambridge Stud, where he was a companion to the champion thoroughbred Rough Habit. The two were buried next to each other, Christopher Vance dying a month past his 30th birthday.[3] [4]