2018 Governor’s Cup Steeplechase Winners

From failed flat racer to steeplechase stardom, Senior Senator, owned by Irvin Crawford, II, has certainly found his niche in the timber world, and is this year’s Maryland Open Timber Champion for the second year in a row. Jockey Eric Poretz and trainer Joseph Davies helped guide the impressive gelding to winning the Grand National and his second Maryland Hunt Cup victory. Sired by Domestic Dispute, Senior Senator also received the MD Million-sired $500 bonus.

Photo: ©Tony Shore

Caves Farm’s Western Exchange, trained by William Dowling, received the Maryland Novice Timber Champion award. Highlights this season included wins in the Novice Timber at the Green Spring Point-to-Point and Fair Hill Point-to-Point with Eric Poretz in the irons.

Photo: ©Tammie J. Monaco

Jockey Eric Poretz tied himself for the Amateur Apprentice Timber Horse and Rider award with Witor and Stand Down (pictured). Poretz rode Witor, owned by Blair Wyatt and trained by Todd Wyatt, to win the Amateur Apprentice Timber at My Lady’s Manor. With Stand Down, owned by Frank Bosnal, Jr., and trained by Joseph Davies, Portez won the Amateur Highweight Timber at the Grand National.

Photo: ©Tony Shore

There was a three-way tie for this year’s recipients of the Maryland Heavyweight Timber Championship between Daddy in the Dark, Mystic Strike and Jesse O (pictured). Daddy in the Dark, owned and trained by H. Bruce Fenwick, won a Heavyweight Timber at the Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point in April with jockey Eric Poretz. Mystic Strike, owned by Upland Partners and trained and ridden by Mark Beecher this season, won the Heavyweight Timber at the Green Spring Point-to-Point. Maryland-bred Jesse O of Flying Horse Farm, won a Heavyweight Timber at the Fair Hill Point-to-Point where he was ridden by Matthew D. Martinez for trainer Jazz Napravnik.

Photo Credit: ©Vispera Productions

With 17 wins this season, Eric Poretz received the Overall Leading Rider award. This season, Poretz has been the common denominator among many of the horses also recognized during this year’s awards, including Open Timber Champion Senior Senator. Poretz also received the H. Brookes Durkee Memorial Leading Timber Rider award and the Thomas H. Voss Memorial Perpetual Leading Amateur Rider award.

Photo: ©Robert Keller

Retired jockey and current champion trainer Joseph Davies earned the Leading Trainer award with 12 wins this season for 60.5 points, nearly double second place trainer Katherine Neilson. His top horse this season was of course the 2016 and 2018 Maryland Hunt Cup winner Senior Senator.

Photo: ©Tammie J. Monaco

Jockey Brett Owings won The Voss Amateur Flat Race Series, with wins on the flat this season at the Elkridge-Hardford Hunt Point-to-Point and the Fair Hill Point-to-Point. At the end of this season, Owings now has 11 wins out of 35 career starts in a mix of flat and timber races.

Photo: ©Katherine O. Rizzo

Bethany Baumgardner was named this year’s Leading Lady Rider, receiving the Betsy Firey Memorial Trophy. One highlight of her season this year is her win aboard Milliner in a Training Flat race at the Fair Hill Races in May. Since she started racing in 2012, Baumgarder has won 15 races and placed in the top three in 62 races out of 137 starts.

Photo: ©Katherine O. Rizzo

With four wins out of ten starts this season, Colin Smith received the awards for Leading Junior Large Pony Rider and Overall Leading Pony Rider. All of his wins were accomplished aboard Balls to the Walls, owned and trained by Mimi Schmitz.

Photo: ©Robert Keller

Scarlet Davies, daughter of jockey/trainers Joe and Blythe Davies, received the Leading Junior Small Pony Rider award. Davies saw major success with wins in the Small Pony Jr. Field Masters Chase races at the Fair Hill Point-to-Point Races and The Howard County Cup Races aboard Hickory, owned by her brother Teddy Davies and trained by Ashton Williams.

Photo: ©Robert Keller

With four wins and three seconds out of 10 races this season, Abigail Murphy earned the title of Leading Medium Pony Rider. Three of her wins were accomplished aboard Roger That, owned by Gerry Brewster and trained by Mimi Schmitz, while two of her seconds were with her own pony Flaming Arrow, trained by Jody Michel.

Photo: ©Tammie J. Monaco

With three of his six career wins achieved this season, Charlie Marquez was named the Leading Junior Horse Rider. Marquez won on his Thoroughbred Mast Strike, trained by Betty McCue, at the Green Spring Point-to-Point, Maryland Junior Hunt Cup and the Howard County Cup Point-to-Point.

Photo: ©Robert Keller

Teddy Davies was awarded the Leading Junior Rider on a Non-TB Horse title. Davies rode his horse Buckshot to a win in the Junior Field Master’s Chase for Non-TB Horses at the Maryland Jr. Hunt Cup in April.

Photo: ©Tony Shore

Hill Tie by Dance With Ravens, out of Ready to Love, received the MD-Bred $500 bonus this year. Bred by Corbett Farm, in Monkton, and John Secor, Hill Tie is owned by Sportsmans Hall and trained by Joseph Davies. Hill Tie won three races out of 11 starts, including the Team Chase – Fastest Time at the Foxhall Team Chase and the Amateur Allowance Timber (NW2) race at the Grand National Races this year.

Photo Credit: ©Tony Shore

In recognition of junior rider Heidi Herzog’s sportsmanship, horsemanship, talent and dedication, she received this year’s Jonathan Kiser Memorial Scholarship. As a recipient, chosen by the MSA board, Herzog will receive a position as a working student for a week with NSA trainer William Dowling and tuition to the National Steeplechase Foundation Summer Steeplechase Camp/Clinic. Despite only two starts this season, Herzog has been a committed competitor and supporter of the races since 2007.

Photo: ©Robert Keller

Competing in 33 races together since 2013, Erin Swope and her mount Sweet Talking Guy were presented with the Hurdy Gurdy Award. The Hurdy Gurdy is given to a racing pair that has deep foxhunting roots; Erin hunts with Carrollton Hounds, often whipping-in alongside her father Ben. Swope is also a previous Kiser Scholar and the first woman to win the Hurdy Gurdy!

Photo: ©Robert Keller

Patrick Gallagher, who only broke into pony racing last year, received the Junior Cubbing Scholarship. He captured three wins in the Small Pony Flat Races at the Fair Hill Point-to-Point, Maryland Junior Hunt Cup and Potomac Hunt Races aboard Hoof Hearted, owned and trained by Mimi Schmitz.

Photo: ©Vispera Productions

Junior rider Hannah Belt was recognized for her commitment and dedication to the sport of foxchasing and steeplechasing with the Junior Foxchasing Scholarship. Belt will receive tuition to attend foxchasing camps and clinics throughout the summer and fall.

Photo: ©Robert Keller

Onetime jockey Irvin S. Naylor is best know as the winner of several National Steeplechase Association year-end championship owner titles but this spring, he was presented with the first ever H. Turney McKnight trophy for Leading Owner of the Maryland Steeplechase Association Governor’s Cup Series. Some of his spring 2018 highlights here in Maryland include Shinobi winning the Amateur Maiden Timber at the My Lady’s Manor Races and national champion Ebanour winning the Open Timber at the Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point. In addition, Ozmoz won the Apprentice Hurdle at the Fair Hill Races this past May.

Photo: ©Robert Keller