Maiden Hurdle winner Prima Facie and rider Jeff Murphy (center) keep in touch with the field the first time around. / Douglas Lees photo
March 12, 2016 saw the sixty-seventh running of the Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point Races going off on the hunt’s normally scheduled weekend for the first time in four years, the three previous race meetings having been postponed because of winter weather conditions. With the weather and the footing close to ideal for horses and spectators alike, the meet, usually the third in the series, also served as the kick-off for the 2016 Virginia point-to-point season.
Jimmy Day-trained entries won two of the three hurdle races: Amateur/Novice Rider with Bruce Smart’s Dai Bando and the Open Hurdle with Daybreak Stables’ Manacor. In the Maiden Hurdle Race, Day’s horse, Zol Zayne had to settle for second place, as he did last year in the same race. The Maiden Hurdle was won by Celtic Venture Stable’s Prima Facie, trained by Eve Smithwick, MFH and huntsman of the Snickersville Hounds (VA). Jeff Murphy held Prima Facie to the pace he wanted and patiently stalked the leader much as he rode the same race last year on winner Bedizen. Murphy took the lead from Hardly Patient on the final turn, accelerated to the last fence, and flew it cleanly for a convincing win.
The Amateur/Novice Hurdle was a heartbreaker for Erin Swope, a young rider not long out of the Restricted Adult Rider ranks, who owns, trains, and has raced her eleven-year-old gelding Slaney Rock with great success for several years, starting in the junior ranks. Following her usual tactic, Swope exploded from the pack and set a blistering pace opening a lead of perhaps thirty lengths alone in front. Some spectators might have shaken their heads at her impulsiveness, but if any rider knows her horse, it’s Swope. Dai Bando made a strong bid late in the race, but finished second. Slaney Rock was disqualified, however, when it was discovered that Swope had lost a lead weight from her pad during the race, and Dai Bando was declared the winner. The only other occasion I have seen this to happen was just last year at the Maryland Hunt Cup.
Manacor, ridden by Sean McDermott, winning the Open Hurdle Race. / Douglas Lees photo
Manacor, a steady performer for Daybreak Stables over the past few years, repeated last year’s win in the lightly-entered Open Hurdle race. The Irish-bred bay gelding has been a strong starter for Jimmy Day, winning a $65,000 allowance hurdle at Saratoga in 2014 just after a solid win on the flat at Belmont Park in a $50,000 claiming race.
Owner/rider Elizabeth Scully saved Girlsruletheworld for a winning drive in the Restricted Young Adult Flat Race. / Douglas Lees photo
In a come-from-behind win, Elizabeth Scully rode her own mare, Girlsruletheworld, to the winner’s circle in the Restricted Young Adult Flat Race. Mark Beecher is the trainer. Scully settled her horse near the rear of the field as Faery Tales and Touch of Snow led one and two at a blistering pace far ahead of the rest. First, Touch of Snow then Faery Tales tired and came back to the others. Scully asked, and Girlsruletheworld answered, closing the gap and going away in the stretch. Arabella Van Patten aboard Faery Tales lost a stirrup before the last fence, but hung on for second place.
Owner/rider/trainer Emme Fullilove single-hands I’m Telling to win the Lady Rider Timber Race. / Douglas Lees photo
In the eighth race—Lady Rider Timber—young Emme Fullilove did it all. As owner, trainer, and rider, she prepared then piloted her dark bay gelding, I’m Telling, to a decisive win. Going to the front early on, she allowed her horse to gain a commanding lead over the rest of the five-horse field. Hardaport ridden by Diana Gillam come from far back, closing the gap over the last half-mile, but had to settle for second place two lengths behind the winner at the wire.
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Posted March 15, 2016