Private Attack Wins George Brown Bowl
Private Attack, owned by Sportsman Hall and trained by Alicia Murphy (pictured above with Mark Beecher in the irons), was named the George Brown Bowl winner for his success on the Maryland spring sanctioned race circuit. The George Brown Bowl has been presented to top steeplechase horses since 1985 who have had the best performance over five Maryland sanctioned races.
Private Attack placed second both at the Maryland Grand Nation and Maryland Hunt Cup this spring. Past winners of this award include Von Csadek, Buck Jakes, Florida Law and Welter Weight. The award is in honor of George Brown, who rode in the Maryland Hunt Cup 14 times (winning in 1900 and 1916). He was also a master of Green Spring Valley Hounds and was a race steward at tracks in Maryland, Delaware and Florida.
Fair Hill Races
42nd annual Fair Hill Races – Saturday, May 29
photos by George Higley
Wheels Up, with Brittany Kimble up, edges out Salinja, ridden by Jody Petty, in the first race (NBRS Training Flat) for owner Travis Kinnamon and trainer Wendy Kinnamon. Salinja is owned by Nina Strawbridge and trained by Sanna Hendriks.
Jody Petty wins the Union Hospital Training Flat aboard Twister Crossing for owner Stewart Strawbridge and trainer Sanna Hendriks.
From left: More to the Point (Paddy Young), Boojwacked (Jody Petty) and Lenape Jim (Xavier Aizpuru) lead the pack at the start of the Columbia Bank Hurdle. Sword of Dubai (not pictured) won the race with Carl Rafter up for owner Hamilton Farm and trainer Katherine McKenna.
Paddy Young piloted Fogcutter (far right) for trainer Thomas H. Voss and owner Fox Ridge Farm, Inc. to win the UBS Hurdle.
Jody Petty (yellow/blue silks) and Roddy MacKenzie make their way to the start line for the James Stump Memorial novice timber race. The race was won by Irvin Naylor’s Fieldview (not pictured) ridden by Carl Rafter and trained by Katherine McKenna.
MD Novice Timber Horse Champ Wins VA Steeplethon
by Katherine O. Rizzo with photos by Isabel J. Kurek
The Whacker, with Paddy Young up, wins the $25,000 Infinitive Steeplethon at the Virginia Gold Cup on May 1.
Maryland trainers, owners, jockeys and horses crossed the finish line first in many of the races at the May 1 Virginia Gold Cup Races at Great Meadown in The Plains. Winning the first race, the $25,000 Audi Cup Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle, was William Dowling aboard Commodore Bob. The horse, trained by Jack Fisher for Arthur Arundel, made a late break and jumped to the lead over the last hurdle.
After being crowned Maryland’s 2010 Novice Timber Horse of the Year, The Whacker (owned by Robert Kinsley and trained by Thomas Voss) won the Steeplethon at the Virginia Gold Cup by a half a length.
Paddy Young got his second win of the day aboard former Maryland Horse of the Year, Bubble Economy (owned by Arcadia Stable), in the $75,000 Galen Capital Corp Virginia Gold Cup. This race was also Jack Fisher’s second win of the day as trainer. The race was a tense one with Bubble Economy seeming to have given the win to Bon Caddo (owned by H. Bruce Fenwick and trained by Dawn Williams) and Patrick Worrall after the last fence. Bubble Economy rallied at the finish to win by half a length.
Carl Rafter and Julia Thieriot’s Fantastic Foe won the $20,000 Rutherfoord Chase over National Fences easily by 4 1/2 lengths for trainer Mairead Carr.
Winning by an even larger margin was Star For Tina with Xavier Aizpuru up. The horse, owned by Clorevia Farm and trained by Edaward Graham, sprung to the lead at the final stretch and quickly pulled ahead, winning the $10,000 EMO Hurdle Cup by 6 1/2 lengths.
Puppy Show!
by Debby Lynn
This year’s Maryland Foxhound Show offered spectators and competitors alike the opportunity to enjoy a glorious spring day in the company of fellow foxhunters. It was held on the elegant, historic grounds of the Green Spring Valley Hounds. Green Spring’s clubhouse, the stately Philpot house, has presided over fox hunting affairs since shortly after the Revolutionary War. MFH Sheila Jackson Brown spared no effort to present the Philpot house and surrounds at their gracious best. Brown was pleased to host a show “dedicated to puppies and youth showing.”
The show was ably organized on behalf of the Maryland Foxhound Club by Marion Scullin of Howard County-Iron Bridge Hounds and Goshen Hounds MFH Tom Pardoe. Pardoe noted that the show was a family affair with daughters Kimberly Manuelides and Stephanie Stull serving as the entry coordinators the day of the show.
Nineteen hunts brought around 160 puppies to compete for honors in the show ring. The “Puppy Show” is all about breeding a pack of hounds suitable for fox chasing. The various huntsmen, who are usually in charge of their breeding programs, bring their best unentered (which means not yet hunted) young hounds to represent his or her breeding program. Additionally, there are classes for stallion hounds and brood bitches.
English Foxhound Champion: Green Spring Valley’s Bailey, handled by Allie Clifton
The first foxhounds came to Maryland in 1650, brought over from Hampshire, England by Robert Brooke, who apparently could not bear to forgo his passion for the sport upon immigrating to the colonies. These first hounds exemplified the type of hound bred in England, and English hounds are still bred and hunted in this county. Loudoun Hunt West and Green Spring Valley Hounds competed in the English ring with GSVH’s Bailey taking top honors.
Not all of American territory resembles the English countryside. Early on, American huntsmen began breeding hounds to suit their own terrain. Penn Marydel hounds were bred to hunt the country where Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware converge and are noted for endurance. Andrews Bridge Foxhounds, Howard County-Iron Bridge, Marlborough, De La Brooke and Mt. Carmel Hounds all brought Penn Marydel hounds to show. Mt. Carmel is a private pack owned and hunted by Carl Shaffer. He has overseen his breeding program with evident expertise for over 40 years, resulting in a first place for his Penn Marydel dog Keeper. Long-time huntsman and hound expert, Allen Forney showed Keeper for Shaffer. When asked what he most liked about Keeper, Forney replied “he’s a very balanced hound with good feet and not too coarse.”
American Foxhound Champion: Potomac’s Judo, handled by Laura Pitts
American hounds are bred for more speed and are generally of a lighter build than English or Penn Marydel hounds. Goshen Hounds, Orange County Hunt and Potomac Hunt all hunt and show American hounds. Potomac and Orange County battled it out for supremacy in the American rings with Potomac Judo edging out Orange County Mascot in the dog ring. Orange County came back to with the bitch class with Orange County Bristle.
Judge Linda Jenkins Armbrust, MFH of Blue Ridge Hunt, explained that she was looking for quality. “There area lot of hounds that are put together the right way but don’t have the quality. When hounds first come into the ring, the quality ones catch your eye. It’s just like horses. If you look at a field full of horses, the quality ones catch your eye right away,” she said. When looking at conformation, Armbrust says, “I look for a well muscled top line, straight elbows, an intelligent head and a good sloping shoulder so they can gallop well. Straight shoulders don’t last.” And finally, she added, “your hounds must show well. There were some lovely hounds [presented], but they must show well.”
Basset Champion: Calf Pasture’s Stylist, handled by Mrs. Peyton Cochran, Jr.
Not all chases require a horse. Several basset or beagle foot packs flourish in Maryland, affording non-riding hunt enthusiasts the opportunity to follow hounds. Five basset packs were represented at this year’s Puppy Show with top honors going to Monkton Hall Bassets’ Starbuck in the dog ring and Calf Pasture Bassets’ Stylist in the bitch ring. Foot hound judge Charles Duval Smith explained some of the differences between bassets, beagles and foxhounds: “It is more difficult to make a pack hound out of a basset, but not as difficult as it is with beagles. There is greater variation in drive in hunting bassets than in beagles.” Smith also noted, “the conformation of a hunting basset is different from American Kennel Club breeding. English Westerby breeding is well represented [in American hunting packs].”
Everyone’s favorite class of the day was the Junior Handler’s class. A total of 27 juniors braved the boards to exhibit their skills at working young hounds. The two junior classes were judge on the handler rather than the hound, with the different sorts of foxhound an basset hounds competing toe to toe. Eleven-year-old handler Samantha Marchant took third in the class for junior over 10-years-old. Asked how she was chosen to represent her hunt, she candidly offered, “I am the youngest member of Calf Pasture Bassets, and the only junior.” She added, “I’ve been hunting for three years.”
Ten-year-old Katie McCoy represented Hill Hollow Bassets in the junior ring and explained, “I started foxhunting with Howard County-Iron Bridge and got interested in the basset pack.” Hill and Hollow Master Marion Scullin is the wife of HCIBH Master Dr. Roger Scullin.
As organizer of the show, Pardoe summed up the day saying, “In my view, it was a great show with good judging and well prepared hounds. The American champion is a typical Potomac classic descended from a Goshen stallion, the Crossbred represents the type extremely well and the English champion, a direct import exemplifies the “modern” style hound now bred in the part of the foxhunting world. The joy of the day for me was Piedmont’s first presentation in the Crossbred dog class with six juniors exhibiting hounds for their huntsman. A great omen for the future of the sport.”
Crossbred Foxhound Champion: Green Spring Valley’s Perfect, handled by Sam Clifton
Editor’s Note: Wondering why an article about foxhounds is posted on the Steeplechase Blog? The sport of steeplechase was invented by a bunch of foxhunters in England. Today’s steeplechase trainers often still hunt their young horses to teach them the ropes of galloping in a field of horses. Foxhunting is also a great way to “leg up” seasoned steeplechase horses. For more about the links between steeplechasing and foxhunting, click here.
Governor Cup Award Winners
The 2010 Maryland Governor Cup Awards Reception took place June 4th at The Manor Tavern in Monkton.
Across The Sky, owned by Holbrook Hollow Farm and trained by Jack Fisher, was one of three horses to win Steeplechase Horse of the Year.
The second horse earning the Steeplechase Horse of the Year award was Arcadia Stables' Delta Park who was also trained by Jack Fisher.
Billy Meister trained the final Steeplechase Horse of the Year, Twill Do for owner Lucy Goelet.
The Maryland Novice Timber Horse of the Year went to The Whacker, owned by Bob Kinsley and trained to victory by Tom Voss.
Alicia Murphy was awarded the 2010 Leading Trainer Award.
The Timber Rider of the Year went to Jake Chalfin.
Paddy Young's many victories led him to earn the 2010 Over-All Rider of the Year.
The annual Betsey Firey Memorial Trophy was given to Diana Gillam.
Darren O'Brian rode Tumultuous to the 2010 Gentlemen's Foxhunter Timber Championship.
The Large Pony Rider of the Year was won by Quinn Scala
Catie Keil was the Medium Pony Rider of the Year.
The Small Pony and Overall Pony Rider of the Year was awarded to Gabby Bernier.
Maggie Herzog was crowned the 2010 Junior Horse Rider of the Year.
One of the Maryland Governor's Cup Committee Scholarship winners was Kelly Witte.
Lindsay Capps was also one of the recipients of the Maryland Governor's Cup Committee Scholarship.
The final Maryland Governor's Cup Scholarship was awarded to Tate Shaw.
Emma Warden won the 2010 Johnathan Kiser Memorial Scholarship.
Who Won What 2010 Maryland Steeplechase Awards?
What does Quinn Scala have in common with Bob Kinsley or Jack Fisher?
Amazing Daisy with The Whacker?
Gabby Bernier with Alicia Murphy or Andre Brewster?
B’s Little Magic with Twill Do?
Catie Keil with Tom Voss or Fritz Boniface?
Maggie Herzog with Paddy Young or Jake Chalfin?
Tate Shaw with Lucy Goelet or Diana Gillam?
Kelly Witte with Billy Meister?
They will all be receiving awards on Friday, June 4!
For more information, visit www.marylandsteeplechasing.com
ATTENTION MSA Young Race Riders…
EARN $500 for your hunt or pony club!!!
Don’t forget to get your Young Rider Group Award Application in ASAP! Please have them in by Wed, June 2nd.
MARYLAND YOUNG RIDER GROUP CHALLENGE – “The D. M. Smithwick Award”
Here are the rules!
• For ages 21 and under.
• Rider must a current member of and in good standing with a Foxhunt, Beagle Pack, or Pony Club.
• Rider may only earn points for ONE organization.
• Only points accumulated in Maryland Races will qualify for the Maryland YRGC.
• The NAPPA Championships will be the only out of start race which qualifies for the Maryland YRGC.
• Eligible entries will be awarded points for 1st place 4th place which will receive the following points respectively 5,3,2, and 1. ALL entries completing a race and not earning points for placing will receive 1⁄2 point.
• In the case of a tie between groups… the prize money will be split.
• Only Riders who have a signed verification form from their group will earn points.
• Any point earner MUST BE a current member of the North American Pt-to-Pt Association (www.NAPTP.com ).
• All participants must keep track of their race record and send results in with the club verification (see attached form).
• Points may be earned in any jumping or flat race held at a Governor’s Cup Race Meet as long as the rider is 21 or under. Relay Races do not count.
• All applications must be received NO LATER than June 2, 2010 but preferably after your final race of the season.
Email or fax forms to Regina Welsh
Email: info@naptp.com
Fax: 410-329-3884
Visit http://www.marylandsteeplechase.com/images/conditions/myrgc.pdf for the form.
Will There Be A 2010 Horse of the Year?
Private Attack with Mark Beecher up (left) and Twill Do with James Stierhoff up (right) at the Maryland Hunt Cup, which was won by Twill Do
We are post Hunt Cup, and yet we continue to see the ripple effect of Maryland’s record setting blizzards.
Usually by this point in the season, we know who the Maryland Governor’s Cup Steeplechase Horse of the Year is – or who the lead horses are. But here we are, beyond the Hunt Cup, with no lead horse, and plenty of doubt as to whether or not we will even have a Horse of the Year.
Steeplechase horses, particularly timber horses, get legged up for the season in the winter, often by foxhunting. The blizzards shut down many packs early and forced the cancelation or rescheduling of the critical timber warm-ups: the Foxhall Farm Trophy Team Chase and the Howard County-Iron Bridge Race Meet (the former canceled, the later will run this Saturday, May 1).
So, the season opened with the Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point on March 27, and organizers struggled with the perennial challenge of being the first race on the card. This challenge, familiar to the organizers of the traditional opening meet: thin entries, as trainers grappled with how to best start their horses pointed for the Hunt Cup.
Meanwhile, the “Big Melt” left a Big Mess, soggy bottoms and tender turf. Prudence being the better part of valor, the mirror image relays were canceled en toto, which effectively suspended The Equiery Hunt Club Relay Race Challenge Trophy for 2010.
Will There Be A 2010 Horse of the Year?
So, here we are, with only two races left and absolutely no clear front runners. The lead horses for Horse of the Year, except for Private Attack, each have one win and one start (to receive Horse of the Year, a horse has to have started in at least two and won at least one race). With six points each, the current contenders are: Delta Park (Aracadia Stables, trained by Jack Fisher), who won the Green Spring Valley Hunt Cup; Radio Flyer (owned by Augustin Stables, trained by Richard Valentine), winner of the $5,000 John Murray Begg Memorial; South Monarch (owned and trained by Sanna Hendricks), who won the $30,000 My Lady’s Manor; Across The Sky (Holbrooke Hollow Farm owned, Fisher trained), who won the $30,000 Grand National Timber Stakes; and, of course, Hunt Cup winner Twill Do (owned by Lucy Goelet, trained by Billy Meister).
Prospectors Strike/Justin Batoff up (left) and Delta Park/Fritz Boniface up (right) at Green Spring Valley
Private Attack (owned by Sportsman Hall, trained by Alicia Murphy) also has six points, and he has two starts (coming in second at the Grand National and Hunt Cup). Private Attack was the 2005 Maryland Novice Timber Horse of the Year and tied for Horse of the Year in 2008.
Despite having healthy entries for its open timber race, the Howard County Cup this Saturday features none of the Horse of the Year contenders. Bon Cado, owned by H. Bruce Fenwick and trained by Dawn Williams, with four points (second at Elkridge-Harford, third at the Grand National) was entered but scratched, so it will be up to the Potomac Races to determine a Steeplechase Horse of the Year.
Who Can Whack The Whacker?
At least with the Novice Timber Horse of the Year, we have a strong front runner with Bob Kinsley’s The Whacker, who handily won his novice timbers at Elkridge-Harford and the Grand National. Again, we’d have to leave it to Potomac to offer a challenge to Whacker, as none of the other Novice Timber contenders (Excellent Cut, Volle Nolle and Prospector’s Strike, each with one win) are entered in Howard’s Alda Clark novice timber.
The Whacker at Elkridge-Harford, ridden by Billy Santoro
Jockeying For Position
In 2009, Patrick Worrall scooped up all the awards to be had for riders…Timber, Amateur and Overall, he has some strong competition for this year, most notably with Paddy Young who has racked up 24 points overall, 15 for timber (while Worrall holds 11 points in each ranking). Darren Nagle is also in a good position overall, with 17.5 points. And let’s not forget the Grand National win aboard Across The Sky, followed by a commanding Hunt Cup lead, for former young rider and Governor’s Cup scholarship winner Fritz Boniface! That puts him in with the big dogs, with 12 points in each division.
Gypsey Beads with Diana Gillam up (left) and Volle Nolle with Patty Young, current leading jockey (right) at Marlborough
Juniors & Ponies
Always hot! And too hot to report until all the placings from Sunday’s Junior Hunt Cup are confirmed and points are tallied…so stay tuned.
And keep an eye on these kids… one of the goals for both the Maryland Steeplechase Association and the North American Point-to-Point Association is to foster future jockeys… Rosie Napriavnik (now on the flat track) and Fritz Boniface (riding in the big timbers) are just two of our former child stars we’ve seen go big time. Stay tuned for more!
Time for the Times
To read more in depth reports about all the thrills and the spills at Maryland’s big timbers, check out these fantastic Steeplechase Times stories:
Tracking The Timber Titans, Green Spring thru The Manor
Across The Sky into the Sun at the Grand National
Twill Do Steals Across The Sky at Hunt Cup
Coal Dust
End Notes
We are saddened to report that the 2009 Maryland Governor’s Cup Horse of the Year, Coal Dust (owned by Armata Stables, trained by Tom Voss) broke his leg in the paddock at the Maryland Hunt Cup and was immediately euthanized.
On a brighter note, our 2002 Maryland Junior Horse Rider of the Year, Rosie Napravnik, continues her rocking flat track career. Rosie will be a featured rider at the Lady Legends Day at the Black-Eyed Susan, May 14 at Pimilco. Join The Equiery Turfside!
The Stalking Horse
You gotta keep your eye on him…
We’ve not seen Irv Naylor much in the winner circle this season (only twice so far: with Kilbreen for the $5,000 John D. Schapiro Memorial Heavyweight Timber at My Lady’s Manor and then again the next day at Marlborough with Dubai Sunday, who captured the Annapolis Subscription amateur flat).
And his big timber horses, while in the running, finished out the Maryland big timbers inauspiciously: Askim running and placing in three timbers, finishing fifth at the Hunt Cup and 2009 Novice Timber Horse of the Year Patriot’s Path also finishing out fifth at the Grand National.
But ya gotta keep an eye on him…as he obviously has his eye cast on the horizon, bringing along future contenders, both the 4-legged type and the 2-legged type (trainer Brianna Slater). And while he may not be in the winner circle, his stable is deep and usually finishing in the money – and apparently he likes to sneak down to Southern Maryland to leg up these future stars:
- Colonial Kid, 3rd in Green Spring’s training flat
- Bag of Hammers, 4th behind stablemate Colonial Kid at Green Spring
- Salmo: 10th in the Green Spring training flat, 6th at the Marlborough ami-flat Annapolis Subscription Plate
- Lady Pith, 4th in Marlborough 2nd Division William H. Brooke Maiden Flat
- Sermonize, 4th in Marlborough’s John D. Bowling Maiden Hurdle
- Tax Ruling, 5th in Marlborough’s Annapolis Plate Open Flat
- Hot Springs (2008 tied Steeplechase Horse of the Year), 8th in the My Lady’s Manor
- Fieldview, 3rd at the Manor’s inaugural maiden timber Sham Asiss
- Gorgeous Charger, 6th in Grand National’s Benjamin Murray Allowance Timber
Click here to see all the results for the Maryland spring steeplechase season and to view Governor’s Cup standings for Horse of the Year, Novice Timber Horse of the Year, Rider of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Junior Horse & Pony Riders Of the Year – and more!
Sycamore Invitational
Each year at the start of the spring steeplechase season in Maryland, Joe and Blythe Davies host an informal day of picnics and racing at their Sycamore Farm in Monkton. The race day is called The Sycamore Invitational and as the name implies, entries are by invite only. Many of Maryland’s top steeplechase trainers bring their top horses for the informal “schooling” races. There are also pony rides and foxhunter style races as well.
Billy Santoro (far right), Blair Wyatt (middle right) and two others head to the starting line for the first race.
Molly Forlano aboard Fort Henry placed second.
Este Stiefel meets Leyla Lange’s dog
Joe Davies announces each race from the back of the SUV
Chris Read aboard Battle Op
Blythe Davies leads Scarlet Davies up on Chippie Blue Eyes
Tom Voss’s horses
Won Wild Bird, with Jody Petty up
Winners Chris Read (Battle Op) and Jody Petty (Won Wild Bird) with Joe Davies
Spring Steeplechasing is Here!
The Maryland spring steeplechase racing season has begun! Stay tuned for photos and results from the following races throughout the next two months.
Sycamore Invitational – March 24, 2010
Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point Races – March 27, 2010
Elkridge-Harford Hunt Point-to-Point Races – April 3, 2010
My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase Races – April 10, 2010
Marlborough Hunt Races – April 11, 2010
Grand National Steeplechase – April 17, 2010
Maryland Hunt Cup – April 24, 2010
Maryland Junior Hunt Cup – April 25, 2010
Howard County-Iron Bridge Race Meet – May 1, 2010
Potomac Hunt Races – May 16, 2010
Legacy Chase at Shawan Downs
The 2009 Legacy Chase was held at Shawan Downs in Hunt Valley on September 26.
In the first race, the Maiden Timber, Alicia Murphey’s Major Price won $12,000 with Jacob Roberts on board.
James Slater piloted Kilbreena (right) for owner Irvin S. Naylor and trainer Brianne Slater to win the Open Claiming Timber, which was the second race of the day.
Jacob Roberts scored his second win of the day in the third race. There he won aboard H. Bruce Fenwick’s Bon Caddo for trainer Dawn Williams.
Benjamin Swope rode his own Incaseyouraminor to win the Amateur Highweight Timber by an impressive 42 1/2 margin.
The Training Flat race, 1-3/8 miles on turf, was divided into two meets with Kamante (far left) narrowly winning the first division. Jake Chalfin was up for Barracuda Stable and Ricky Hendriks.
Jacob Roberts earned his third win of the day aboard Boojwhacked who won the second division of the Training Flat race for Lonesome Glory LLC and trainer Blythe Miller Davies.
For candid photos of jockeys, owners, spectators and more, see the November print edition of The Equiery. Now in stores!
