This oil painting by Linda Volrath is a reminder of the cruel winds and sometimes worse weather that prevailed at the Blue Ridge Hunt point-to-point on that first weekend in March every year. With the new late-April race date, such days on this excellent viewing racecourse are now just a memory…it is sincerely hoped.The Blue Ridge Hunt’s point-to-point course at Woodley has long been one of the favorite venues for race watching as far as view ability of the races are concerned. But the early March date on the Woodley hillside has had an equally long history of unforgettably uncomfortable weather, as Linda Volrath’s wonderful painting reminds us. The hunt’s new April date, which fell this year on Sunday, the 22nd, promises now to substantially improve the comfort aspect of the equation for viewers and participants alike. This year, it was a picture-perfect day for both horses and people, and a new look greeted spectators with vendor and sponsor tents, a food stand, stick pony races for the children, spring temperatures, and blessed sunshine.
Maiden Hurdle race. / Joanne Maisano photoThere was no open hurdle or open timber race offered, trainers of the experienced horses opting for the sanctioned races earlier in the week. But the new Blue Ridge date provides a good opportunity for the up and coming horses, amateur and novice riders, and the regular point-to-pointers. The first race on the card was the Maiden Hurdle, in which Emily Astor’s Star Glitter duked it out for much of the race with Tambourin. After the last fence, Star Glitter lengthened a narrow lead during the stretch run for the win in the three-horse field. The French-bred winner was ridden by Dean Sinnot and is trained by Leslie Young.
The Blue Ridge hounds were a crowd pleaser, especially while visiting with the children. / Joanne Maisano photoSix horses went to the start for the second race, Restricted Young Adult Flat. Mell Boucher rode Stalled, owned and trained by Jonathan Shepherd. Nearing the last turn, Stalled was anything but. She made her move on pacesetter Extreme Warrior at the final turn, established herself in front, and held her lead comfortably to the wire.
Trainer Shepherd’s second win of the day resulted from a similar surge by Samurai Song, Gerrard Galligan up, with an off-the-pace effort near the final turn and a win over the pacesetter, Hepcat in the Maiden Flat Race.
Churchill D (Evan Dwan up) wins the Novice Timber. / Joanne Maisano photoThe last three races of the day were over timber. Sweet Talking Guy, owned, trained and ridden by Erin Swope was the only entry in Lady Rider Timber, and the pair raced with the two Novice Timber horses. The winner was Wit’s End Stables’ Churchill D, repeating his win in the same race at Old Dominion under the same rider, Evan Dwan. Churchill D is trained by William Dowling.
Way Up High (Erin Swope up) is the winner of the Amateur and Novice Rider Timber Race. / Joanne Maisano photoIn the final race, Amateur and Novice Rider Timber, it was Way Up High making a bold move on the inside of the leaders, Rollforward and Air Maggie. Way Up High, owned and trained by Benjamin Swope and ridden by Erin Swope, shot to the lead with a quarter-mile to run and won going away by three-and-a-half lengths. Air Maggy and Rollforward cut a flag and were disqualified, lifting Seeking Deniro, owned, trained, and ridden by Matthew Martinez, to second place.
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Posted May 1, 2018